INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Durban II

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what information his Department holds on which UK non-governmental organisations are  (a) participating and  (b) planning to participate in the Durban II process.

Meg Munn: I have been asked to reply.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has maintained informal contacts with a number of organisations expressing an interest in the conference. The list of non-governmental organisations that attended the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference from 27 to 31 August 2007 is set out in its report, available at:
	http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/groups/prep_ committee_durban/docs/prepcomdraft.doc

Iraq: International Assistance

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 11 June 2007,  Official Report, column 846W, on Iraq: international assistance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the three latest reports by the Iraq Compact Secretariat on progress made towards meeting Compact Goals.

Douglas Alexander: The International Compact for Iraq (ICI) published their first mid-year progress report in July 2007. This was followed by a joint ICI/United Nations update in September 2007. A copy of these reports will be placed in the Library of the House. Their next progress report is due in April.

SCOTLAND

Written Questions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many written questions to his Department had not received an answer as at 25 February 2008 for  (a) between two and four,  (b) between four and six,  (c) between six and eight and  (d) more than eight weeks; and how many in each category were tabled for named day answer.

David Cairns: As at 25 February 2008, the Scotland Office had two written questions which had not received an answer for between two and four weeks. These were both ordinary written questions.

Official Engagements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his official engagements were from 13 January to 24 February.

Des Browne: The information is as follows:
	Throughout the period 13 January to 24 February, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office.
	In addition, on 14 January, I had a meeting with the mother of an injured soldier.
	15 January, I met representatives of the Mull of Kintyre Group, spoke by telephone with the US Secretary of Defence and had dinner with Lord Glenarthur.
	16 January, I attended a Veterans Day event for MPs in the House of Commons.
	17 January, I met representatives of the Royal British Legion and gave evidence to the Quadripartite Committee of the House of Commons.
	21 January, I answered Defence questions in the House of Commons and gave an oral statement to the House on the theft of a laptop containing personal information relating to service personnel.
	22 January, I had meetings with the wife of a deceased solider and her local MP, the Macedonian Defence Minister and the Turkish Chief of Defence and I attended the opening of the 'Scots in Quebec' exhibition at Canada House.
	23 January, I answered Scottish questions in the House of Commons.
	24 January, I met Baroness Nicholson to discuss the situation in Iraq, attended receptions for UK4UTHANKS and SSAFA and spoke by telephone with the Danish Defence Minister.
	25 January, I visited 51 Brigade in Scotland, met the First Minister of Scotland, and visited the Solve It project in Falkirk and the Glasgow Works project.
	28 January, I met representatives of Shell UK, hosted a lunch in the Ministry of Defence with nine injured service personnel and subsequently gave a speech to the Senior Defence and Diplomatic Service Conference.
	29 January, I gave evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee on Devolution and met MPs from the Glasgow area to discuss our plans for the future aircraft carriers.
	30 January, I met Michael Wareing, the UK's representative on the Basra Development Commission, and attended an EDS Defence Ltd reception at RUSI.
	31 January, I visited injured service personnel in Headley Court and paid a visit to Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow, following which I had a video-telephone conference with the NATO Secretary General.
	5 February, I gave a speech at a nuclear disarmament conference in Geneva and subsequently had a meeting with the Polish Chief of Defence.
	6 February, I had lunch with a representative of the media.
	7 to 8 February, I attended the NATO Defence ministerial meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania. On 11 February, I visited Babcocks Marine at Rosyth Dockyard.
	12 February, I addressed the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham and had dinner with Ambassador Daithi O'Ceallaigh, Irish ambassador to the UN.
	13 February, I had lunch with Ambassador David Cooney, the Irish ambassador to the UK, as well as meetings with Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, the Iraqi National Security Adviser and Sir David Richards, chairman of the Premier League.
	15 February, I visited Thales Optronics in Glasgow to announce the award of a contract for the surveillance system and range finder.
	16 February, I attended a presentation for veterans in Glasgow.
	19 February, I had lunch with representatives of the media, and then a meeting followed by dinner with the families of deceased service personnel.
	21 to 22 February, I attended the EU Defence ministerial meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Press Gallery

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much was paid by the House in subsidy to the Press Gallery  (a) bar,  (b) cafeteria and  (c) restaurant in the last 12 months for which information is available; what rental was paid by the Press Gallery for its accommodation in the House over the same period; and what charges are made to the Gallery or its members for the use of telephones.

Nick Harvey: The total subsidy (the difference between income and costs) in the Press catering outlets in 2006-07 was £201,100. Separate figures for each outlet are not available. No rental is paid by the Gallery, nor are charges made to its members for the use of telephones for calls within London.

Television

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many plasma television screens have been purchased by the House, and at what cost, in the last 24 months.

Nick Harvey: Two 42 inch plasma screens have been purchased in the last 24 months for use in the Commons Chamber at a cost of £3,400.

Visitor Reception Building

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission on what date the visitors reception building is expected to open; when the building was expected to open at the outset of the project; what the reasons are for the delay; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The date for full opening of the building will be fixed after trials to test the technical equipment and the handling of visitors have been completed. Some trials have already occurred, and more are taking place at present. The project was originally planned on the basis of an opening date of autumn 2006 but delays were caused by unexpected problems with piling work and with services buried beneath the site, and later by difficulties with the construction of the building itself.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Government Equalities Office

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what progress has been made in appointing a permanent secretary for the Government Equalities Office.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 4 February 2008
	I am pleased to announce that Jonathan Rees has been appointed as director-general in charge of the Government Equalities Office, and took up his new position on 25 February. He will also be the GEO's accounting officer.
	There are no plans to appoint a permanent secretary as well.

Official Hospitality

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many receptions she has hosted and funded in her capacity as Minister for Women and Equality; which individuals and organisations  (a) were invited to and  (b) attended each reception; and what the cost was of each reception.

Barbara Follett: Since 28 June 2007, I have hosted three receptions and co-hosted two. The details are as follows, in date order:
	 Black History Mon th 29 October 2007
	This event marked Black History Month and encouraged Black, Asian and ethnic minority women to become local councillors, as they are under represented. It was attended by approximately 150 people in the House of Commons. The cost of this event was £4,414.06.
	 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities 13 December 2007
	This event marked the completion of the '2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All' in the UK. Over 200 people were invited to the House of Commons including those who participated in case studies on equality and diversity issues. The event cost £12,285.63, half of which was paid for by the European Commission. The cost to the Government's Equalities Office was £6,143.
	 Equality Commissioners Event 29 January 2008
	This event marked the contribution made by the outgoing Commissioners of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Commission for Racial Equality and Disability Rights Commission, and provided the opportunity for representatives of organisations involved in equalities issues to meet the Commissioners of the new Equality and Human Rights Commission. Approximately 200 people attended including organisations and parliamentarians with an interest in equality issues. The event was organised with and co-funded by the Government Equalities Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government Department and the total cost of the reception was £3,970. The Government's Equalities Office contribution was £1,323.
	 Marking the 90( th) Anniversary of Women's Suffrage 6 February 2008
	This event marked the 90(th) Anniversary of women's suffrage at Lancaster House. It was co-hosted by the Government Equalities Office and the Fawcett Society. It was attended by approximately 200 people. The Government's Equalities Office contribution for this event was £2,132.
	 Trade Union Women 18 February 2008
	This event marked the work of trade union women and equality representatives to advance equality issues in the workplace. The event was attended by 120 people. The cost of the reception was £2,448.70.
	Lists of those invited to these events and those who attended will be placed in the Commons Library. This will be subject to data protection requirements.
	All figures are inclusive of VAT.

WALES

Departmental Advertising

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of his Department's initiatives have been advertised to the public in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost of each such campaign was.

Paul Murphy: None.

Departmental Data Protection

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether confidential or personal information has been compromised through the loss of property from his Department since 1997.

Paul Murphy: No.

Departmental Plants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on pot plants in each of the last five years.

Paul Murphy: Nil.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether consideration has been given to applying gender responsive budgeting to his Department's budget.

Paul Murphy: The UK Government are supportive of efforts to achieve gender equality and continues to work very closely with both the Women's National Commission and the Women's Budget Group on promoting gender equality within the UK.
	In 2004, HM Treasury undertook a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure with the Women's Budget Group. The project demonstrated the value of gender analysis in some areas and identified what tools and expertise were necessary within government to carry out gender analysis, but that further work was needed before gender responsive budgeting could be implemented.
	In 2008, HM Treasury will be conducting further work that will determine whether it is prudent and feasible to disaggregate departmental expenditure statistics by gender.

Departmental Written Questions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many written Questions to his Department had not received an Answer as at 25 February 2008 for  (a) between two and four,  (b) between four and six,  (c) between six and eight and  (d) more than eight weeks; and how many in each category were tabled for named day answer.

Paul Murphy: None.

Devolution

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly government on cross-border issues; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly government when we use the opportunity to discuss a range of issues, including the delivery of services between Wales and England in cross-border areas.
	It is important that both the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly government work in partnership to ensure that the highest standard of services are delivered to people on both sides of the border. I welcome the inquiry by the Welsh Affairs Committee into the provision of cross-border public services for Wales.

Iron and Steel

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and  (b) the Welsh Assembly government on the future of the steel industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with ministerial and Welsh Assembly government colleagues on matters of importance to Wales, including the steel industry.
	Tata Steel's announcement of a £9 million investment at its Morfa coke facilities, coupled with the company's earlier commitment to invest £60 million in energy management technology at Port Talbot is a huge vote of confidence in Welsh steel-making. These investments demonstrate the confidence business places in the future of steel making in Wales.

TRANSPORT

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress her Department has made in its zero-based budget review under the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Gentleman to Annex D3 in "Meeting the aspirations of the British people: the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review" (Cm 7227).

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements her Department and its agencies place on contractors in relation to audit of data and IT equipment.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Contractors are used by the Department's internal audit group and by line management to assist in the audit of data and IT equipment. Contractors typically have specialist skills relevant to the performance of audits.
	The extent to which contractors are employed varies between the Department and its agencies, and the nature of requirements will vary according to the needs of specific situations.
	The Department's internal audit group has had arrangements with various contract partners to provide specialist data and IT audit resources where these are required. Individuals are appropriately qualified and are vetted to an appropriate level.
	Contractors employed by DfT management to perform penetration testing must be CESG CLAS or part of the CHECK scheme. Agencies also include HSE and ISO/BS technical criteria requirements as appropriate for the contracted tasks.

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what minimum demonstrable security standards are required by her Department and its agencies of a company before it is permitted to carry out an audit of data security processes.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department's internal audit group has contractual arrangements with third party partners who are able to provide technical expertise to assist with data security audits. These partners are typically either recognised national or international auditing firms or smaller specialist auditing practices. The individuals from these firms who assist the Department's internal audit group will be bound by their respective professional standards, typically as a member of a recognised accountancy or auditing body.
	Before performing work for the Department's internal audit group, individuals will be subject to the same security checks and procedures as new recruits into the civil service.
	Individuals from other organisations employed by the Department's line management to perform audits and other checks are required to meet Government vetting standards.

Departmental Official Cars

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what make and model of car  (a) she and  (b) each Minister in her Department selected as their official ministerial car; and what criteria were applied when making the decision in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Prime Minister sets the criteria for cars for use by Ministers. Currently, Cabinet Ministers may choose either a diesel powered Jaguar XJ or a Toyota Prius hybrid. Other Ministers may also choose from a Toyota Prius, a Honda Civic hybrid or any other suitable car with a CO2 emission of 185 g/km or less.

Departmental Regulatory Impact Assessments

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many regulatory impact assessments her Department has conducted in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In the 12 months to 31 January 2008 the Department undertook 51 consultations that were accompanied by regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) or impact assessments (IAs).
	A final RIA was laid in Parliament with the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007. Final RIAs or IAs were laid with 40 pieces of Secondary Legislation.
	We publish final RIAs and IAs on our website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/aboutria/

Driving Tests: Motorcycles

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the motorcycle driving test in other EU member states to driving a motorcycle on UK roads.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All EU member states are subject to European standards concerning training and testing persons who wish to obtain a licence to ride a motorcycle.

First Great Western

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent reports she has received on the standard of First Great Western services between Oxford and London;
	(2)  what steps she has taken to ensure that First Great Western complies with the terms of its franchise on commuter services between Oxford and London;
	(3)  what progress her Department has made in its discussions with First Great Western on standards of service on their Thames Valley commuter services.

Tom Harris: holding answer 15 January 2008
	I refer my right hon. Friend to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, on 26 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 73-74WS.

Government Car and Despatch Agency: Contracts

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value is of the vehicle leasing contracts held between the Government Car and Despatch Agency and Government Departments in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1348-49W.

Great Western Trains: Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to her written ministerial statement of 26 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 73-74WS, on First Great Western franchise, how many extra carriages for the Portsmouth to Cardiff line will be provided; from where these will be sourced; and by what date.

Tom Harris: holding answer 29 February 2008
	10 additional carriages will be provided, comprising five two-carriage class 150 trains from Arriva Trains Wales from May 2008.

Great Western Trains: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the performance of First Great Western in meeting its existing rail franchise obligations and targets; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, on 26 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 73-74WS.

Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what progress is being made towards the introduction of single-line working during engineering work on the railway;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to achieve a year-round seven-day railway service; and what timescale is being applied to these steps.

Tom Harris: These are operational matters for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his questions:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton street
	London. NW1 2EE.

Rolling Stock: Brighton

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure provision of extra diesel rolling-stock on the Brighton-Ashford line during the current franchise period.

Tom Harris: All train operating companies, including Southern, are obliged to use their best endeavours to match available rolling stock to accommodate passenger demand.

Train Operating Companies: Franchises

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the franchise payment profile for  (a) Arriva Trains Wales,  (b) c2c,  (c) Chiltern Railways,  (d) Cross Country,  (e) East Midlands Trains,  (f) First ScotRail,  (g) First TransPennine Express,  (h) Gatwick Express,  (i) London Midland,  (j) London Overground and  (k) Merseyrail;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the franchise payment profile for  (a) National Express East Coast,  (b) Northern Rail,  (c) One,  (d) Southeastern,  (e) Southern Trains,  (f) South West Trains and  (g) Virgin Trains.

Tom Harris: holding answer 4 March 2008
	 I have placed a copy of the subsidy and premium profiles for all current franchises that are the responsibility of the Department for Transport in the Library of the House. Details of London Overground, Merseyrail and First Scotrail are not shown as these operators are managed by Transport for London, Merseytravel and Transport Scotland respectively. The subsidy profile for Arriva Trains Wales only shows the Department for Transport's commitment, the bulk of this franchise being the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Wind Power

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which wind farm proposals her Department lodged objection in each of the last three years; and for what reasons in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department has not objected to any offshore wind farm development proposals.
	Any potential navigational safety issues have been addressed either in discussion between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (who are statutory consultees in the developmental approval process) and the developers, or by the inclusion of appropriate conditional consents in the decision letter.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have taken place with local mobile telephone companies in Afghanistan on jamming telecommunication networks.

Des Browne: I am unaware of any discussions between local mobile telephone companies in Afghanistan and members of the UK armed forces on jamming telecommunications networks.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for compensation were  (a) made and  (b) successful from service personnel who were injured in armed combat in each of the last five years; and what the average length of time taken was for any payment to be made.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 6 March 2008
	Information on service personnel who have been injured in armed combat and subsequently made a claim for compensation could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many single living accommodation units for service personnel are of standard  (a) 1,  (b) 2,  (c) 3 and  (d) 4 in (i) the UK and (ii) in each home nation.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 4 February 2008
	The standard of single living accommodation (SLA) is measured by Grade for Charge (GfC) an assessment of the physical condition of the accommodation, together with other factors such as location and closeness to amenities. SLA bed-spaces broken down by GfC and home nation are shown in the table as follows:
	
		
			  Home nation  Grade 1  Grade 2  Grade 3  Grade 4  Total 
			 England 31,848 14,375 20,076 56,196 122,495 
			 Scotland 2,553 1,576 1,691 2,128 7,948 
			 Northern Ireland 248 588 1,424 2,396 4,656 
			 Wales 739 859 155 1,492 3,245 
			 Total 35,388 17,398 23,346 62,212 138,344 
		
	
	Over the next decade the MOD will spend over £8 billion on accommodation, including some £3.1 billion on bringing accommodation up to the top condition. This will include the delivery of some 30,000 new or improved SLA bedspaces by 2013.

Armed Forces: Inheritance Tax

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, after consultation with HM Revenue and Customs, he will seek the help of ex-service associations in making known to the executors and heirs of armed forces members, whose death may have been brought forward by injury in qualifying circumstances, how to obtain relief from inheritance taxes.

Derek Twigg: There is no automatic exemption for veterans from inheritance tax, but information on exemptions, under S154 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984, is available to executors, the next of kin or the veterans themselves, in booklets provided by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), and through the SPVA helpline. A short article on the exemption was also included in the most recent edition of the Veterans World Newspaper (issue 9: winter 2008), which is distributed to civilian and service organisations that assist the public and service community. I am aware that the War and Service Widows Associations and SAGA, Help the Aged, and mainstream newspapers have run articles on this exemption in the recent past. Advice is also contained in the Community Legal Service Direct Information Leaflet 25 (Rights for Former Servicemen and there Women and their Families), which is available from a variety of sources.
	Officials are also writing to the Confederation of British Service and Ex-Service Organisations in order to further highlight the exemption.

Bradley and Others  v. the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the implications are of judgment in Bradley and Others  v. the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the treatment of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration's findings for his response to the Debt of Honour report; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: In the light of further work undertaken following the publication by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman of her report on the Government's ex-gratia payment scheme for former far east prisoners of war and civilian internees, the Ministry of Defence accepted in full her recommendations. On that basis, the Department does not consider that this judgment has any implications for its response.

Departmental Data Protection

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1225, on MOD (data loss), how many of the 600,000 individuals who registered an interest in an armed forces career whose details were on recently stolen Ministry of Defence laptop computers subsequently joined the armed forces.

Des Browne: Early analysis of the details held on the stolen MOD laptop computer indicated that some 63,000 individuals either subsequently went on to serve in the armed forces (but have since left) or are currently serving. A more precise figure would require a comprehensive cross-check with data-sets held on our main Joint Personnel Administration System. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Equality

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of the duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Derek Twigg: The conclusions we have reached can be found in our annual progress report which will be published in April 2008. The report will be placed in the Library of the House and published on the Ministry of Defence website.

Departmental Eurostar

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies spent on  (a) first and  (b) other class travel by Eurostar in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: There is an agreement in place with Eurostar for discounted fares for duty travel originating in the UK. The 2007 expenditure under this agreement was:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Business class tickets 329,349 
			 Other class tickets 65,390 
		
	
	These figures do not include any bookings made through the normal Eurostar reservations using a Government Procurement Card, for which figures are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the mean cost was to his Department of employment of one member of staff in each of the last 10 years.

Derek Twigg: We estimate the average cost of employment as follows:
	
		
			   Average cost( 1)  (£) 
			 1997-98 20,000 
			 1998-99 20,000 
			 1999-2000 21,000 
			 2000-01 22,000 
			 2001-02 23,000 
			 2002-03 24,000 
			 2003-04 25,000 
			 2004-05 26,000 
			 2005-06 28,000 
			 2006-07 30,000 
			 (1 )The average cost has been calculated using (i) the number of full-time equivalent civilian employees, excluding those in Trading Funds (which lie outside the departmental accounting boundary) and (ii) the expenditure recorded in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts for financial years 2001-02 onwards. The figures represent the cost of salary and wages, overtime, social security costs, pension costs and redundancy and severance payments. Information for the financial years before 2001-02 has been derived from an analysis of the Appropriation Accounts which reflects a different and not directly comparable accounting regime from resource accounting.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department and its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by staff grade.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1620W, to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban).

Ex-servicemen

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was allocated by his Department to services for members of the armed services who had been invalided out of the service in each year since 2003, broken down by  (a) sex,  (b) regiment,  (c) service and  (d) age cohort of recipient.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of  (a) meningitis,  (b) food poisoning,  (c) pneumonia and  (d) gastroenteritis there have been among members of the armed services serving in Iraq since 2003, broken down by (i) sex, (ii) age and (iii) regiment.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 14 March 2007,  Official Report, column 335W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, how many requests from Iraqi authorities have been received by British forces to re-intervene in  (a) Muthanna,  (b) Dhi Qar and  (c) Basra provinces since the handover of security responsibility to the Iraqis in these provinces.

Des Browne: UK Forces have not received any requests from the Iraqi authorities to re-intervene in Muthanna, Dhi Qar or Basra since the handover of security responsibility to the Iraqis in these provinces. However, we have provided specialist support to operations led by the Iraqi security forces on a number of occasions.

NATO: Ballistic Missile Defence

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he expects a new agreement at the forthcoming NATO conference in Bucharest  (a) to seek to integrate the US Missile Defense system and NATO's European theatre missile defence system and  (b) enable NATO to share authority for the current US Missile Defense system.

Des Browne: Ballistic missile defence (BMD) is an important issue for NATO and it will be discussed at the Bucharest summit. Further work is required to assess the political and military implications of BMD on the alliance; it is too early to judge the outcome of this work.

Official Engagements

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his official engagements were between 13 January and 24 February 2008.

Des Browne: The information is as follows:
	Throughout the period 13 January to 24 February, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office.
	In addition, on 14 January, I had a meeting with the mother of an injured soldier.
	15 January, I met representatives of the Mull of Kintyre Group, spoke by telephone with the US Secretary of Defense and had dinner with Lord Glenarthur.
	16 January, I attended a Veterans Day event for MPs in the House of Commons.
	17 January, I met representatives of the Royal British Legion and gave evidence to the Quadripartite Committee of the House of Commons.
	21 January, I answered Defence questions in the House of Commons and gave an oral statement to the House on the theft of a laptop containing personal information relating to service personnel.
	22 January, I had meetings with the wife of a deceased soldier and her local MP, the Macedonian Defence Minister and the Turkish Chief of Defence and I attended the opening of the "Scots in Quebec" Exhibition at Canada House.
	23 January, I answered Scottish questions in the House of Commons.
	24 January, I met Baroness Nicholson to discuss the situation in Iraq, attended receptions for UK4UTHANKS and SSAFA and spoke by telephone with the Danish Defence Minister.
	25 January, I visited 51 Brigade in Scotland, met the First Minister of Scotland, and visited the Solve It Project in Falkirk and the Glasgow Works Project.
	28 January, I met representatives of Shell UK, hosted a lunch in the Ministry of Defence with nine injured service personnel and subsequently gave a speech to the Senior Defence and Diplomatic Service Conference.
	29 January, I gave evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee on Devolution and met MPs from the Glasgow area to discuss our plans for the future aircraft carriers.
	30 January, I met Michael Wareing, the UK's representative on the Basra Development Commission, and attended an EDS Defence Ltd. reception at RUSI.
	31 January, I visited injured service personnel in Headley Court and paid a visit to Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow, following which I had a video-telephone conference with the NATO Secretary-General.
	5 February, I gave a speech at a Nuclear Disarmament Conference in Geneva and subsequently had a meeting with the Polish Chief of Defence.
	6 February, I had lunch with a representative of the media.
	7-8 February, I attended the NATO Defence Ministerial meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania.
	11 February, I visited Babcocks Marine at Rosyth Dockyard.
	12 February, I addressed the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham and had dinner with Ambassador Daithi O'Ceallaigh, Irish ambassador to the UN.
	13 February, I had lunch with Ambassador David Cooney, the Irish ambassador to the UK, as well as meetings with Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, the Iraqi National Security Adviser and Sir David Richards, Chairman of the Premier League.
	15 February, I visited Thales Optronics in Glasgow to announce the award of a contract for the Surveillance System and Range Finder.
	16 February, I attended a presentation for veterans in Glasgow.
	19 February, I had lunch with representatives of the media, and then a meeting followed by dinner with the families of deceased Service personnel.
	21-22 February, I attended the EU Defence Ministerial meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

RM Condor

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 889-90W, on RM Condor, for what reasons each unit of single accommodation at RM Condor in condition grades 3 and 4 has been given that grading.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 31 January 2008
	All single living accommodation (SLA) at RM Condor has been subject to a Grading Review in accordance with this Department's 4-Tier Grading system, which provides the means of determining accommodation charges for differing standards of SLA. In this system, Grade 1 for Charge (GlfC) is the highest and G4fC the lowest. The grading system assesses 14 different criteria relating to accommodation such as condition (including decoration), scaling, provision of local amenities and environmental factors. All the different factors are taken into account, and when targets are not met a graduated number of points are deducted from the overall score. The more deductions there are, the lower the grade allocated to the SLA.
	Of the 1,021 SLA bed-spaces at RM Condor, 383 have been assessed at being GlfC, 566 are at G3fC and 72 at G4fC. SLA bedspaces at RM Condor, while not new, are generally in a reasonable standard of condition and the main reasons for the number of G3fC and G4fC bedspaces is due to either Scaling (e.g. size of rooms) or Location (e.g. proximity to local amenities). Given the number of bed-spaces assessed as G3fC and G4fC, details of individual assessments could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Data Protection

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether personal data for which his Department is responsible are  (a) stored and  (b) processed overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: A small number of departmental staff are attached to UK embassies and high commissions in certain countries. Their main task is to collect information for claims to certain UK benefits and carry out related duties on behalf of the Department. They will, in the course of their work, hold some personal data for some individuals.
	Other than this no significant personal data in respect of customers or employees, for which the Department is responsible, are processed or stored overseas.

Departmental Databases

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what databases are  (a) owned and  (b) maintained by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (Mrs. McGuire) gave the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1420W.

Hacking

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the use of a hacking tool or other malicious software enabling departmental information to be  (a) retrieved and  (b) manipulated by a third party has been detected on a (i) network, (ii) computer or (iii) database within his Department's responsibilities.

Stephen Timms: It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for Departments to confirm whether they hold information about attacks against their IT systems. This would enable individuals to deduce how successful the UK is in detecting these attacks, and so assist such persons in testing the effectiveness of the UK's IT defences. This is not in the public interest.

Lone Parents: Welfare Tax Credits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance and information his Department provides to lone parents on tax credit entitlement in the second year after returning to work.

Stephen Timms: Jobcentre Plus personal advisers give general advice about tax credits to lone parents who are considering work. They can also provide tax credit helpline telephone numbers and assist in the completion of tax credit forms.
	Personal advisers can also conduct a 'Better Off Calculation' which provides written information for the customer including advice about in-work benefits, housing and council tax benefits, the job grant and free school meals, to enable customers to make an informed decision about entering work. Part of this calculation can include an estimate only of tax credit entitlement, based on the information that the customer provides. If the customer is able to provide a prediction of income and circumstances for their hypothetical second year of work, a 'Better off Calculation' could be conducted using this information.

Material Handling Equipment: Industrial Health and Safety

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incidents there were involving tower cranes toppling in each of the last five years; and in each case how many  (a) deaths and  (b) serious injuries resulted.

Anne McGuire: Reports made to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), include a wider range of issues than incidents purely relating to toppling (i.e. collapsing) tower cranes, because they fall within the broader category of "failure, collapse or overturning of lifting machinery, excavator, pile driving, or Mobile Elevated Working Platform." Similar difficulties arise with injury reports.
	Accordingly, the figures for collapsing tower cranes are based on the best available data held by HSE's Construction Division, rather than wider RIDDOR information. The number of incidents includes Dangerous Occurrences; fatal accidents to workers and members of the public; and major injuries to workers.
	Information is not available for 2002-03, but from 2003-04 to 2006-07 there have been 32 incidents involving tower cranes collapsing. A breakdown of these, showing the number of deaths (five) and major injuries (six) is given in the following table. (Figures for 2006-07 are provisional.)
	
		
			  Year (1 April to 31 March)  Number of incidents involving tower crane collapses  Number of deaths  Number of major injuries 
			 2002-03 n/a n/a n/a 
			 2003-04 6 0 2 
			 2004-05 3 2 3 
			 2005-06 11 0 0 
			 2006-07 (provisional) 12 3 1 
			 n/a = No information available

National Insurance: Databases

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms are in place in his Department to identify inappropriate searches of the national insurance number database.

Stephen Timms: Departmental employees are required to observe the Department's standards of behaviour policy which makes clear that they may only access information where they have a business reason to do so. Employees are advised of these rules on appointment, and regularly reminded of their responsibilities. The Department takes very seriously its statutory obligations in relation to personal data, and takes disciplinary action where employee behaviour falls short of the expected standards.
	The Department's customer information system (CIS) is the database that records personal details for everyone with a national insurance number. Access to CIS by departmental users is strictly controlled, and based on business need and particular user roles.
	Specific mechanisms to identify inappropriate searches include random and targeted system-generated management checks, and electronic audit trails which are routinely applied in order to identify inappropriate use.

New Deal Schemes

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many participants have taken part in the  (a) New Deal for Young People,  (b) New Deal 25 Plus,  (c) New Deal 50 Plus,  (d) New Deal for Lone Parents,  (e) New Deal for Disabled People and  (f) New Deal for Partners in each month since each such programme was established.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 29 February 2008
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal participants (cumulative) 
			  Month  New deal for young people  New deal 25 plus  New deal 50 plus  New deal for lone parents  New deal for partners  New deal for disabled people 
			  1998   
			 July 102,490 — — — — — 
			 August 112,800 — — — — — 
			 September 120,060 — — — — — 
			 October 126,100 — — — — — 
			 November 129,950 — — 10,820 — — 
			 December 133,140 — — 13,070 — — 
			
			  1999   
			 January 138,510 — — 19,390 — — 
			 February 141,780 — — 27,240 — — 
			 March 144,550 — — 35,560 — — 
			 April 145,580  — 39,990 — — 
			 May 145,750 — — 42,490 — — 
			 June 144,440 — — 43,680 — — 
			 July 146,020 — — 45,350 — — 
			 August 143,590 — — 46,350 — — 
			 September 138,090 — — 50,220 — — 
			 October 131,400 — — 54,770 — — 
			 November 126,840 — — 56,200 — — 
			 December 127,740 — — 51,650 — — 
			
			  2000   
			 January 129,520 — — 53,230 — — 
			 February 128,780 — — 56,700 — — 
			 March 128,410 — — 60,410 — — 
			 April 127,150 — — 61,750 — — 
			 May 126,170 — — 62,800 — — 
			 June 122,610 — — 63,450 — — 
			 July 122,050 — — 63,430 — — 
			 August 119,420 — — 62,820 — — 
			 September 111,480 — — 65,580 — — 
			 October 106,500 — — 65,930 — — 
			 November 103,160 — — 64,530 — — 
			 December 103,890 — — 60,670 — — 
			
			  2001   
			 January 105,900 — — 61,580 — — 
			 February 104,750 — — 62,570 — — 
			 March 103,630 1,550 — 63,390 — — 
			 April 103,040 10,580 — 61,760 — — 
			 May 102,400 18,940 — 60,890 — — 
			 June 99,640 27,520 — 60,670 — — 
			 July 100,310 33,610 — 60,460 — 1,530 
			 August 98,030 40,660 — 60,530 — 2,880 
			 September 94,830 45,230 — 62,130 — 3,810 
			 October 91,710 48,870 — 60,480 — 4,830 
			 November 89,520 53,330 — 61,220 — 6,570 
			 December 90,650 56,420 — 59,250 — 7,410 
			
			  2002   
			 January 92,560 57,550 — 61,790 — 8,800 
			 February 94,480 57,870 — 65,100 — 10,680 
			 March 96,290 58,220 — 68,930 — 13,080 
			 April 97,290 58,430 — 69,760 — 15,320 
			 May 98,230 59,100 — 72,920 — 18,190 
			 June 96,520 59,020 — 74,670 — 20,010 
			 July 97,860 59,020 — 76,100 — 22,250 
			 August 96,240 58,990 — 76,350 — 24,770 
			 September 92,650 58,240 — 81,450 — 27,120 
			 October 90,080 62,080 — 82,430 — 29,500 
			 November 87,680 64,510 — 81,460 — 32,070 
			 December 89,020 65,880 — 77,450 — 32,960 
			
			  2003   
			 January 92,620 65,960 — 79,070 — 34,950 
			 February 93,040 65,310 — 80,720 — 37,250 
			 March 94,620 64,390 — 81,830 — 39,550 
			 April 94,610 64,410 — 82,170 — 41,110 
			 May 95,340 64,220 — 82,600 — 42,890 
			 June 94,560 63,160 — 84,250 — 45,010 
			 July 96,620 62,160 — 84,550 — 47,260 
			 August 95,910 61,270 — 84,700 — 49,300 
			 September 92,880 60,160 — 88,170 — 51,630 
			 October 89,210 59,110 — 90,300 — 53,980 
			 November 87,580 58,150 — 89,900 — 55,440 
			 December 88,460 58,150 — 85,800 — 56,100 
			
			  2004   
			 January 90,750 57,350 4,040 86,960 — 57,960 
			 February 90,590 56,620 7,140 89,030 — 60,140 
			 March 90,980 55,560 10,580 89,890 — 62,540 
			 April 90,620 54,910 13,100 88,720 90 65,450 
			 May 90,260 54,850 15,460 87,610 320 68,680 
			 June 88,100 54,570 17,730 85,610 470 71,630 
			 July 88,170 54,610 20,620 82,540 680 75,870 
			 August 86,820 55,440 23,140 80,300 840 78,840 
			 September 83,160 55,210 25,390 80,260 1,010 82,140 
			 October 79,210 54,810 28,520 80,940 1,240 85,930 
			 November 78,020 54,910 30,520 79,160 1,440 88,680 
			 December 79,150 55,850 32,360 72,580 1,530 89,820 
			
			  2005   
			 January 80,950 55,730 34,180 73,900 1,680 92,310 
			 February 81,870 55,820 36,200 74,520 1,840 95,480 
			 March 82,990 55,200 37,950 73,930 2,010 98,210 
			 April 84,380 54,270 39,880 72,900 2,210 101,720 
			 May 85,240 53,810 41,390 70,620 2,310 104,240 
			 June 83,960 53,310 42,660 68,630 2,400 106,440 
			 July 86,610 52,160 44,290 66,980 2,490 109,570 
			 August 87,160 51,600 45,460 65,680 2,480 112,330 
			 September 84,600 50,350 46,840 68,230 2,580 116,210 
			 October 82,860 49,420 47,950 68,250 2,610 119,380 
			 November 82,180 48,930 49,280 67,210 2,650 122,450 
			 December 84,360 49,260 50,350 62,570 2,650 123,720 
			
			  2006   
			 January 87,750 49,070 51,300 63,340 2,690 126,920 
			 February 89,420 49,270 52,150 64,470 2,790 130,840 
			 March 92,780 49,190 53,150 63,990 2,930 134,990 
			 April 94,570 49,250 53,680 61,420 2,990 138,080 
			 May 96,760 49,790 54,510 59,290 3,050 141,160 
			 June 96,090 50,070 55,280 57,870 3,090 144,570 
			 July 98,400 50,480 55,880 55,880 3,120 148,050 
			 August 98,320 51,350 56,350 54,090 3,170 152,080 
			 September 93,830 51,830 56,900 54,100 3,230 157,150 
			 October 90,970 53,130 57,190 53,560 3,290 161,210 
			 November 89,040 54,580 57,610 52,970 3,340 164,730 
			 December 89,930 56,990 57,870 50,290 3,420 167,050 
			
			  2007   
			 January 92,850 58,190 58,400 53,010 3,490 171,300 
			 February 92,520 59,290 58,900 57,640 3,620 175,270 
			 March 93,350 59,760 59,240 60,950 3,750 179,840 
			 April 91,570 59,990 59,460 61,350 3,790 183,270 
			 May 90,120 60,340 59,490 64,410 3,820 186,170 
			  Notes: 1. Programme start dates are: New Deal for Young People: April 1998 (piloted from January 1998); New Deal 25 plus: July 1998; New Deal for Lone Parents: October 1998; New Deal for Partners: April 1999; New Deal 50 plus: April 2000; New Deal for Disabled People: July 2001. 2. Participant information for each new deal is only available from the dates given in the table. 3. Data are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: DWP Information Directorate

Winter Fuel Payments: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Castle Point constituency received winter fuel payments in each of the last three years.

Mike O'Brien: The following table shows the number of people who received a winter fuel payment in the Castle Point constituency in each of the last three years. Figures for winter 2007-08 are not yet available but we expect the number to be similar to that for winter 2006-07.
	
		
			  Castle Point constituency 
			   Payments made 
			 2004-05 20,020 
			 2005-06 20,500 
			 2006-07 21,140 
			  Notes: 1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.  Source: Information directorate 100 per cent. data.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Apprentices

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) women,  (b) black and minority ethnic people and  (c) people with disabilities in apprenticeships, broken down by business sector;
	(2)  which sectors of UK business provide the largest number of apprenticeships.

David Lammy: holding answer 3 March 2008
	 I have been asked to reply.
	Overall there were 184,300 apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships starts in 2006-07 in England. Table 1 shows how this splits by sector subject area. Further breakdowns of the sector numbers by gender, ethnicity and disability are not readily available, but table 2 splits the overall number of starts by these three dimensions.
	
		
			  Table 1: Starts by programme type and sector subject area: 2006-07 
			  Sector subject area  Apprenticeship  Advanced apprenticeship  Total 
			 Retail and Commercial Enterprise 34,900 8,100 43,000 
			 Business, Administration and Law 26,200 10,200 36,400 
			 Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 17,600 17,100 34,600 
			 Construction, Planning and the Built Environment 20,600 6,900 27,500 
			 Health, Public Services and Care 15,200 8,400 23,600 
			 Information and Communication Technology 4,300 2,100 6,400 
			 Leisure, Travel and Tourism 3,700 1,900 5,600 
			 Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 3,000 900 3,900 
			 NVQ not started 1,700 1,100 2,800 
			 Arts, Media and Publishing 100 200 200 
			 Education and Training 100 0 100 
			 Unknown 100 0 100 
			 Total 127,400 56,900 184,300 
			  Note:  Numbers rounded to the nearest 100  Source:  Learning and Skills Council. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Starts by programme type and gender, ethnicity and disability: 2006-07 
			   Apprenticeship  Advanced apprenticeship  Total 
			 Total 127,400 56,900 184,300 
			 
			  Gender
			 Female 60,700 23,700 84,400 
			 Male 66,700 33,200 99,900 
			 
			  Ethnicity
			 Any other 600 200 800 
			 Asian or Asian British—any other Asian background 300 100 400 
			 Asian or Asian British—Bangladeshi 1,200 100 1,300 
			 Asian or Asian British—Indian 900 400 1,200 
			 Asian or Asian British—Pakistani 1,200 400 1,600 
			 Black or black British—African 500 200 600 
			 Black or black British—any other black background 400 100 500 
			 Black or black British—Caribbean 1,000 400 1,300 
			 Chinese 100 0 100 
			 Mixed—any other mixed background 500 200 700 
			 Mixed—white and Asian 300 100 400 
			 Mixed—white and black African 200 100 300 
			 Mixed—white and black Caribbean 1,000 300 1,300 
			 Not known/not provided 1,000 400 1,400 
			 White—any other white background 1,900 600 2,400 
			 White—British 116,300 53,200 169,500 
			 White—Irish 300 200 500 
			 
			  Learning difficulties/ disabilities
			 Learning difficulty 16,200 4,200 20,400 
			 No learning difficulty 110,100 52,200 162,300 
			 No info 1,200 500 1,700 
			  Note:  Numbers rounded to the nearest 100.  Source:  Learning and Skills Council.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the salary range is for each pay band of civil servants in his Department.

Gareth Thomas: The details of salary ranges for each pay band of civil service in the Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform are as follows:
	
		
			  SCS pay ranges from 1 April 2007 
			  £ 
			   Minimum  Ceiling 
			 SCS Pay Band 1 56,100 116,000 
			 SCS Pay Band 2 81,600 160,000 
			 SCS Pay Band 3 99,960 205,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Pay ranges of staff below SCS—from 1 August 2007 
			  £ 
			  Pay range  Minimum  Target rate  Maximum 
			 London 2 16,517 18,023 18,525 
			 London 3 18,227 19,853 20,395 
			 London 4 19,433 21,179 21,761 
			 London 5 20,364 24,168 25,119 
			 London 6 21,760 25,804 26,815 
			 London 7 24,730 29,278 30,415 
			 London 8 26,313 31,221 32,448 
			 London 9 30,903 38,327 40,183 
			 London 10 42,375 52,359 54,855 
			 London 11 51,355 63,435 66,455 
			 FastStream 25,800 30,800 31,800 
			 
			 National 2 13,017 14,523 15,025 
			 National 3 14,727 16,353 16,895 
			 National 4 15,933 17,679 18,261 
			 National 5 16,864 20,668 21,619 
			 National 6 18,260 22,304 23,315 
			 National 7 21,230 25,778 26,915 
			 National 8 22,813 27,721 28,948 
			 National 9 27,403 34,827 36,683 
			 National 10 38,875 48,859 51,355 
			 National 11 47,855 59,935 62,955 
			 FastStream 22,300 27,300 28,300

Foreign Investment in UK: Japan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of UK jobs which have resulted from Japanese investment in the UK over the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) has the lead role within Government for delivering trade development and inward investment services for business. It brings together the work of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on international trade and investment. During the five years to March 2007, UKTI has recorded a total of 11,571 new jobs and 47,386 safeguarded jobs associated with inward investment into the UK from Japanese owned companies.

Minimum Wage

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which locations the national minimum wage information tour bus will visit; and on what dates.

Patrick McFadden: The national minimum wage bus tour began on 9 January 2008 and will end on 9 March 2008. Locations visited during the nine week tour are as follows:
	
		
			  Date  Location 
			 9 January 2008 Walthamstow, Tower Hamlets, Hackney 
			 10 January 2008 Stratford, East Ham 
			 11 January 2008 Lewisham 
			 12 January 2008 Peckham 
			 16 January 2008 Erdington, Perry Barr, Oldbury 
			 17 January 2008 Birmingham 
			 18 January 2008 Small Heath 
			 19 January 2008 Birmingham City Centre 
			 23 January 2008 Blackburn 
			 24 January 2008 Salford, Longsight, Wythenshaw 
			 25 January 2008 Eccles, Harpurhey, Withington 
			 26 January 2008 Manchester City Centre 
			 30 January 2008 Nottingham 
			 31 January 2008 Sutton in Ashfield, Mansfield 
			 1 February 2008 Coventry 
			 2 February 2008 Nottingham 
			 6 February 2008 Barnsley 
			 7 February 2008 Bradford 
			 8 February 2008 Rotherham 
			 9 February 2008 Sheffield City Centre, Handsworth 
			 13 February 2008 Huyton 
			 14 February 2008 Speke, Toxteth 
			 15 February 2008 Kirkby, Walton 
			 16 February 2008 Liverpool City Centre 
			 18 February 2008 Newcastle City Centre 
			 19 February 2008 Washington, Killingworth 
			 20 February 2008 Easterhouse 
			 21 February 2008 Tollcross, Parkhead, Clydebank 
			 22 February 2008 Cathcart, Cambuslang 
			 23 February 2008 Glasgow City Centre 
			 27 February 2008 Fishponds, Redland, Filton 
			 28 February 2008 Bristol City Centre 
			 29 February 2008 Pontprennau, Newport, Caerphilly 
			 1 March 2008 Cardiff City Centre 
			 5 March 2008 Wood Green, Finsbury Park 
			 6 March 2008 Edmonton, Tottenham, Stoke Newington 
			 7 March 2008 Islington, Camden 
			 8 March 2008 Brent Cross, Baling, Willesden 
			 9 March 2008 Bethnal Green

Minimum Wage: Publicity

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which companies or organisations are donating goods or services in support of the national minimum wage information tour bus initiative.

Patrick McFadden: None.

Post Offices: Closures

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  which areas have had announcements of which post offices are to close under the Network Change Programme; how many planned closures there are in each of these areas; which areas have yet to have announcements made in respect of closures; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which post offices were originally proposed for closure under the Network Change Programme that have subsequently had a decision to keep them open; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  for what reasons Goldcroft post office in Yeovil has been included on the list for planned post office closures; how much was spent on upgrading Goldcroft post office in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many of the 2,500 post office branches earmarked for closure have postmasters or mistresses who are taking the compensation offered and are giving up the business.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to my hon. Friend. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the reasons are for the planned closure of Kellet Road Post Office, Carnforth.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to my hon. Friend. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Reorganisation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many residents in North Yorkshire he estimates will have access by road to a post office within three miles following the implementation of the Post Office restructuring programme.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Development Agencies: Culture

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much financial support each Regional Development Agency gave to regional cultural consortiums in each year since 1999-2000.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 6 March 2008
	Regional Cultural Consortia (RCCs) were established in 1999. Since then, RDAs have engaged in varying degrees of partnership with RCCs and contributed funding accordingly. There is no formal obligation for RDAs to fund RCCs. However, some RDAs make a regular financial contribution to RCCs and some only channel funding through RCCs in relation to specific projects and do not make regular annual contributions.
	The following table shows financial support by each RDA to RCCs since 1999-2000:
	
		
			  RDAs  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 AWM 0 0 0 0 0 87 82 82 
			 EEDA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 
			 EMDA 0 0 0 3 25 6 70 80 
			 LDA(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 NWDA 0 0 11 150 150 150 150 150 
			 ONE 0 0 0 30 30 30 30 30 
			 SEEDA 0 0 0 0 0 22 30 15 
			 SWRDA(2) 0 0 0 71 85 40 67 209 
			 YF(3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 366 366 
			 (1 )There is no regional cultural consortium in London. However, there is a Cultural Strategy Group, a statutory body corporate appointed by the Mayor of London. (2) There are no details of contributions prior to 2002-03, as management accounts for Culture South West were handled by English Heritage. (3) YF invested £1.1 million in Yorkshire Culture over three years, it concludes in March 2008.

Regional Development Agencies: Pay

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was paid in bonuses to staff of each regional development agency in England in each year for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: As non-departmental public bodies, each RDA operates bonus schemes specific to its own organisations. These are operated in line with published guidance on public sector pay and bonuses.
	Bonuses are non-consolidated payments that are awarded to staff based on performance either at an individual, team or organisational level. Bonus payments are re-earnable and do not have associated future costs.
	Since the RDAs were set up, bonus schemes have from time to time been revised within individual agencies to reflect their increased delivery responsibilities and the need to achieve value for money and reduce cost increases where possible.
	The following table shows annual bonuses paid to staff of each RDA.
	
		
			  £000 
			  RDAs  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 AWM 129 189 82 121 149 
			 EEDA 99 106 155 154 169 
			 EMDA 68 99 77 64 79 
			 LDA(1) n/a n/a 132 190 156 
			 NWDA(2) 310 493 655 660 736 
			 ONE 111 124 118 148 183 
			 SEEDA(3) n/a n/a 173 244 190 
			 SWRDA 163 171 225 261 314 
			 YF 100 198 255 309 260 
			 (1) LDA did not award performance bonuses to staff before 2005. (2) In 2001, NWDA introduced a pay strategy which linked all pay (consolidated and non-consolidated) to individual performance. The pay strategy does not allow for automatic year on year pay progression or cost of living increases for staff. (3) Figures are not available before 2003-04 as the payroll information has been archived. The requested information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Regional Development Agencies: Visits Abroad

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much each regional development agency spent on overseas travel, in each year for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 27 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1682-83W.

Shoreham Harbour: Transport

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what studies the South East England Development Agency has commissioned into transport links with Shoreham Harbour.

Patrick McFadden: SEEDA has commissioned initial studies with highway consultants to evaluate infrastructure options for the Shoreham Harbour vision as part of the wider master planning work.

Sports: Standards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what response he has made to the findings and recommendations of the Audit Commission Report of June 2006, Public sports and recreation services: making them fit for the future.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 7 March 2008
	 I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have welcomed this important report, which highlights the need for better, more strategic decision making by local authorities on the procurement and management of leisure facilities. We want to help local authorities to revitalise their leisure facilities and to ensure that the right sports facilities are in the right places. Sport England has already developed a range of strategic planning tools to assist them. These include, among others: the Active Places database, which provides a comprehensive picture of sports facilities across the country; the National Benchmarking Service; a Facilities Planning Model; and a Sports Facilities Demand Estimator. In addition, Sport England's Facilities Improvement Service is working closely with local authorities to improve the quality of their sports facilities and service delivery.

Union Modernisation Fund: Audit

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 408W, on union modernisation fund: audit, for what reasons his Department took the decision to apply the Standardised Terms of Engagement to the independent accountant; and if he will amend the terms of engagement in respect of the independent accountant to enable his reports on union modernisation fund expenditure to be published.

Patrick McFadden: The decision to use the Standard Terms of Engagement was in line with standard Department practice for grant aided programmes. The Department does not intend to change this.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what total value of single farm payment cheques were issued by the Rural Payments Agency for between  (a) £60.01 to £80.00,  (b) £80.01 to £100.00,  (c) £100.01 to £120.00 and  (d) £120.01 to £150.00, in the last 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 7 March 2008
	The number and value of SPS payments made in the last 12 months in the bands specified in the question were as follows:
	
		
			   Number  Value (£) 
			 £60.01 to £80.00 2,453 171,704 
			 £80.01 to £100.00 2,524 226,960 
			 £100.01 to £120.00 2,366 260,299 
			 £120.01 to £150.00 3,059 411,719 
		
	
	The figures include SPS 2005, 2006 and 2007 payments.

Animal Welfare Act 2007

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) secondary legislation and  (b) codes of practice under the Animal Welfare Act 2007 (i) he plans to produce in the next three years and (ii) he originally planned to produce in the next three years but now expects not to produce in that period.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested is not yet available as the departmental business planning process has still to be completed.

Arm's Length Management Organisations

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding was provided by his Department to each of its arm's length bodies and gross controlled agencies in each of the last three years; what the annual variation in real terms was in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 27 February 2008
	Funding details for arm's length bodies and gross controlled agencies for the last three years are provided in the following tables. HM Treasury deflators have been used to derive annual variations in real terms.
	
		
			  Arm's length bodies 
			  £ million 
			   2005-06 Budget  2006-07 Budget  Real terms Variance 2005-06 to 2006-07  2007-08 Budget  Real terms Variance 2006-07 to 2007-08 
			 RBG Kew 24.90 24.90 -0.7 25.20 -0.51 
			 Food From Britain 5.37 4.97 -0.6 5.03 -0.10 
			 British Waterways 62.60 55.40 -9.3 57.55 0.35 
			 WRAP (1) 68.21 65.51 -4.8 59.00 -8.63 
			 ENCAMS 5.54 5.11 -0.6 5.01 -0.26 
			 Carbon Trust 60.60 78.30 16.5 90.66 9.82 
			 Energy Savings Trust 26.45 26.70 -0.5 28.69 1.12 
			 National Parks 42.13 43.12 -0.2 44.74 0.22 
			 National Forest Co. 4.20 3.30 -1.1 3.35 -0.06 
			 Natural England (2) — 194.57 — 181.02 -19.87 
			 Environment Agency 572.10 658.30 72.1 734.89 55.20 
			 Total 872.09 1,160.16 271.6 1,235.14 37.27 
			 (1) WRAP includes BREW programme funding for all years (2) Natural England vested 1 October 2006—budget for 2006-07 includes set-up costs 
		
	
	
		
			  Gross controlled agencies 
			  £ million 
			   2005-06 Budget  2006-07 Budget  Real terms Variance 2005-06 to 2006-07  2007-08 Budget  Real terms Variance 2006-07 to 2007-08 
			 RPA Operations 215.0 232.6 11.8 264.3 24.1 
			 Marine and Fisheries Agency 21.5 25.1 3.1 24.7 -1.2 
			 Animal Health 91.4 101.8 8.0 112.2 7.1 
			 Govt Decontamination Service 2.5 3.3 0.7 2.6 -0.8 
			 Total 330.4 362.8 23.6 403.8 29.2

Birds of Prey: Genetics

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what species were chosen for his Department's research project on DNA profiling of birds of prey using fluorescent multiplexing initiated in 2004; what criteria were used to choose the species; what the costs to his Department were of the project; what the date of completion of the project was; and what the purpose of the project was.

Joan Ruddock: The purpose of the project was to develop fluorescent multiplexes for the golden eagle, goshawk, gyr falcon, merlin, peregrine falcon and saker falcon. The development and implementation of a fluorescent multiplex system would allow the construction of databases and allow comparisons between any sampled individuals avoiding the need to re-test them. The system should facilitate compliance checking and assist enforcement efforts.
	The species were chosen to ensure that they were the most appropriate for the project, based on previous research into DNA forensic techniques involving birds of prey.
	The cost to DEFRA of the project was £143,192. The work was completed in November 2006 and the final report will be published in an appropriate scientific journal shortly.

British Waterways: Finance

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects on the canal system of the changes to British Waterways' budget in 2007-08.

Jonathan R Shaw: British Waterways' budget has remained fixed for 2007-08 at £55.3 million and will be reinforced with a settlement of £56.624 million for 2008-09 plus £1.024 million towards the repayment of the capital of a national fund loan.
	DEFRA is working with British Waterways to agree a sustainable and affordable strategy for the waterways in order to get the best public benefits from the resources available.

BSE: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he intends to continue to test brain tissue from cattle born before 1996 but which are slaughtered after the end of the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme.

Jonathan R Shaw: Following the closure of the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme, cattle born before August 1996, which die or are killed, will need to be tested for BSE under current EU rules.

BSE: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the maximum time after death is by when samples from fallen stock should be taken. [R]

Jonathan R Shaw: EU law does not define a "maximum time". However, we set administrative deadlines for notification (in domestic Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) regulations) and collection (in the contract with the Rural Payments Agency) of fallen cattle to enable us to meet our obligations under EU TSE legislation.
	These deadlines are based on advice from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) on the rate of decomposition of bovine brain tissue. The VLA advice is influenced by various factors such as ambient temperature and the presence of disease.

BSE: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department takes to trace contacts, offspring or cohorts from cattle which test positive for BSE at slaughter either under the Older Cattle Disposal scheme or as fallen stock. [R]

Jonathan R Shaw: Animal Health traces the cohorts and the offspring of cattle which test positive for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). This is done by using both an electronic database which is linked to the Cattle Tracing System, and manual inspections of farm records.
	This applies to cohorts born after 31 July 1996 and to offspring born within two years prior to, or any time after, the clinical onset of BSE in the dam.

Common Fisheries Policy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the attribution of exclusive competence over marine biological resources to the EU on the exercise of responsibilities by national and regional authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The text of the treaty of Lisbon reflects the extent of current powers under the common fisheries policy and we do not therefore envisage any changes to the various processes concerned. For this reason, we have not seen the need to discuss the provision further or reassess its significance.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were prosecuted under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Ministry of Justice's court proceedings data for 2007 will not be available until autumn 2008.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government intends to review the operation of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Government conducted a review of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 last year. We consulted police forces in England and Wales and discussed the outcome of this consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). A summary of the responses by police forces is available in the Library of the House.
	In the light of the response from the police service, we concluded that the current legislation is sufficiently robust to effectively deal with the problem of dangerous dogs.
	We will work closely with the ACPO in helping to implement initiatives to ensure that the law is enforced more effectively.

Departmental Advertising

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on advertising in each year since 2001, broken down by type of media; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The core departmental expenditure on advertising for the past five available financial years is as follows:
	
		
			   Media  
			  Financial year  Press  Radio  Internet  Total 
			 2002-03 — — — — 
			 2003-04 5,520 — — — 
			 2004-05 105,345 28,271 — 133,616 
			 2005-06 29,498 183,335 167,460 380,293 
			 2006-07 60,204 — 508,524 568,728 
		
	
	This includes communications on a wide range of matters, much of it necessary or beneficial to the public and the wide range of industries in which DEFRA has an interest, together with local government, voluntary organisations and other bodies.
	Individual records of spend for DEFRA's non-departmental public bodies, agencies and financially sponsored organisations are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of his Department's civil servants were  (a) suspended and  (b) dismissed for accessing (i) obscene and (ii) other prohibited material on work computers in each of the last five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: No officers have been suspended or dismissed for accessing obscene and other prohibited materials on work computers over this period.
	Before being allowed access to the internet all users are required to read and agree to a Personal Commitment Statement which sets out the requirement to follow the Department's security policies, including those which relate to the use of e-mail and the internet which are detailed on the staff intranet.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) staff and  (b) full-time equivalent staff under 18 years of age are employed by his Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: The civil service statistics are collected by ONS from the annual civil service employment survey (formerly Mandate) and the latest published statistics are for the year to 30 September 2006. The following table shows the number of staff under 18 years of age employed by the Department as at that date.
	
		
			   Headcount  Full-time equivalent 
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (excluding agencies) 0 0 
			 Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science — — 
			 Central Science Laboratory 0 0 
			 Government Decontamination Services 0 0 
			 Marine Fisheries Agency 0 0 
			 Pesticides Safety Directorate 0 0 
			 Rural Payments Agency n/a n/a 
			 State Veterinary Service 0 0 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency — — 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate 0 0 
			 n/a = Data not available  Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10 and numbers less than five are represented by "—".

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on  (a) alcohol and  (b) entertaining in the last 12-month period for which information is available.

Jonathan R Shaw: From information held centrally the amounts spent on hospitality by the core-Department are:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2001-02 140,588 
			 2002-03 344,822 
			 2003-04 576,829 
			 2004-05 381,138 
			 2005-06 457,523 
			 2006-07 405,482 
			 2007-08 (April to December) 291,585 
		
	
	Direct year-on-year comparisons cannot be made because of machinery of Government changes that have occurred. The core-Department does not hold information centrally on hospitality expenditure by its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The core-Department holds no information centrally on the expenditure category of alcohol.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of his Department's expenditure was allocated to Government growth areas in the last year for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: Details of DEFRA's expenditure in 2006-07 are set out in the 2007 departmental report. Information on the proportion of departmental funding which is directed at the growth areas is not available other than at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Sustainable Development

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing proposals to reduce the environmental impact of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs offices at Peaseholme Green, York.

Jonathan R Shaw: The driver for the project at Peaseholme Green is primarily to increase occupancy capacity to enable the Department to achieve greater efficiencies in office utilisation which in itself will contribute to reducing the Department's environmental impact. All government major refurbishments and new builds are required to achieve BREEAM Excellent accreditation.
	DEFRA approach capital projects holistically, which includes sustainable construction, energy and water efficiency, achieving BREEAM Excellent while giving value for money to the Exchequer. This approach is supported by the reference to two of its major projects in the National Audit Office's report dated April 2007 titled 'Building for the future: Sustainable construction and refurbishment on the government estate' where the NAO cite them as good examples.
	The construction works at Kings Pool are being undertaken in an industry leading way, minimising waste output while maximising the recycling of any waste materials produced. A number of low and zero carbon technologies are also being introduced to the site including solar thermal hot water, rain water harvesting and ultra low NOx gas fired boilers. These technologies combined with a state of the art building management system have been designed to help the building user make the most efficient use of the new facilities, and reduce the environmental impact of the site.
	Using its experience in refurbishing office buildings, achieving BREEAM Excellent, reducing energy and water consumption, selecting sustainable materials and adopting sustainable construction methods, DEFRA estimate that the extra-over cost of additional sustainable technologies incorporated into the works is around £485,000 inclusive of VAT, which equates to 2.9 per cent. of the capital construction costs, which were budgeted at £16.9 million inclusive of VAT.
	For comparison, BRE supported documentation indicates that in a new build naturally ventilated building a BREEAM Excellent rating costs between 2.5 per cent. and 3.4 per cent. of the capital cost; to achieve this in a major refurbishment such as that being undertaken at Kings Pool, we would anticipate this figure being higher.

Departmental Travel

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on travel  (a) within and  (b) outside the UK for officials in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of his Department's overall expenditure was spent on such travel in each such year.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA came into being in June 2001. This information requested for each of the last 10 years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For the period April 2006 to December 2007 inclusive, and from information held centrally, core-DEFRA, the Animal Health Agency, the Centre for Environmental, Fisheries and Aqua-Cultural Science, the Government Decontamination Service, and the Rural Payments Agency the information on expenditure on travel within and outside the UK by officials is:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Rail  Air  Road 
			 Within UK 2,784,667 516,166 2,451,884 
			 Outside UK 985,945 2,930,924 135,975 
		
	
	The Department Report 2007 records total departmental spending as £3,718,167,000. Travel expenditure by officials is approximately 0.26 per cent. of this sum.

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by staff grade.

Jonathan R Shaw: From information held centrally, the core Department spent £1,285,766 on first class travel in the period January to December 2007 inclusive. Information on first class travel expenditure by DEFRA'S agencies and non-departmental bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The expenditure analysis by staff grade is:
	
		
			  Travel type  Grade  Spend 
			 Air 6 5,331.20 
			  7 19,353.70 
			  SEO 284.90 
			  SCS 12,517.20 
			
			 Rail 5 49,161.64 
			  6 191,266.76 
			  7 352,800.38 
			  AA 8,939.65 
			  AO 32,395.75 
			  EO 53,182.15 
			  HEO 160,318.15 
			  SEO 198,710.07 
			  SCS 195,723.10 
			  Unspecified 5,781.42

Dogs: Registration

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dangerous dogs are registered in the UK.

Jonathan R Shaw: Since 1991, there have been 8,916 dogs registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Of these, 1,130 are currently alive.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 985W, on waste disposal: domestic wastes, which organisations will carry out the independent evaluation of the rubbish collection charge pilot schemes.

Joan Ruddock: Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill allow five local authorities to pilot incentives to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	An organisation is yet to be appointed to carry out the evaluation.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answers to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 715W, and 28 January 2008,  Official Report, column 86W, on domestic wastes: waste disposal, whether the Waste and Resources Action Programme holds data on the frequency of domestic rubbish collection by local authorities in  (a) Wales and  (b) Scotland.

Joan Ruddock: As my reply of the 29 October 2007,  Official Report, column 715W, stated, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) does not advise local authorities in Wales or Scotland, and does not hold data on the frequency of domestic waste collection by Welsh or Scottish authorities.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the proposed new charges for the collection of household waste will apply to domestic hereditaments on Crown land.

Joan Ruddock: Powers provided in the Climate Change Bill allow five local authorities to pilot incentives to encourage household waste minimisation and recycling.
	Paragraph 1 of proposed schedule 2AA, which sets out the rules for the schemes, allows an authority to apply schemes to any domestic premises within the definition given in paragraph 16 of schedule 2AA. This definition of domestic premises includes domestic hereditaments on Crown land, as it covers any part of a building used wholly for the purposes of living accommodation. It will be up to an authority to decide which premises its scheme will include.

Energy: Conservation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings his officials have had with the European Commission's Director General for Enterprise and Industry or his representatives where the concerns of UK industry on the application of the Eco design of Energy-using Products Directive were discussed.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 25 February 2008
	The Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry is jointly leading on the energy using products (EUP) directive with the Directorate General for Energy and Transport.
	DEFRA officials regularly meet and discuss issues on an EU level, including on energy efficient products. DEFRA officials attended a number of meetings on the EUP where officials from the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry have been present. These include consultation forum meetings on 22 June, 19 October and 18 December last year, and 22 February this year.
	While DEFRA officials have had general discussions on the EUP, no bilateral meetings between DEFRA and the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry have taken place where specific industry concerns have been discussed.

Energy-using Products Framework Directive

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which organisations his Department consulted during the development of the framework for the Energy-using Products Framework Directive;
	(2)  if he will hold meetings with interested parties in the three week consultation period on the Energy-using Products Framework Directive in addition to the consultation forum planned for 29 February.

Joan Ruddock: My officials held a number of meetings with a very wide range of UK stakeholders during the development and negotiation of the Energy Using Products Framework Directive (EuP), which was finalised in 2005.
	Officials from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and DEFRA have met with representatives from the UK boiler and water heaters industry throughout the period in which the EU consultant was undertaking a study to assess the suitability of these products for the development and implementing measure under EuP. The most recent meeting was held on 4 February to discuss the Commission's first draft proposal for an implementing measure. Written views were also invited ahead of the EU Consultation Forum on 29 February. In addition, officials attended meetings with the European Trade Associations on 28 February in order to learn more about the issues the boiler and heating industry face across Europe. DEFRA officials will continue to engage with the industry on this issue.

Environment Protection: Fixed Penalties

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fixed penalty notices have been issued under section 47ZA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Jonathan R Shaw: In the reporting period April 2006 to March 2007, 988 fixed penalty notices were issued under Section 47ZA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	Statistics on fixed penalty notices for environmental offences are published on the DEFRA website.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the European Fisheries Fund National Strategic Plan and Operational Programme was not developed between October and December 2006, as envisaged in his Department's Autumn 2006 edition of Fishing Focus.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1623W.

Fisheries: Inspections

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time fishery inspection officers spent in post was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The average length of service of the Fishery Officers in post on 1 January 2008 is 11&frac12; years.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons a formal consultation paper for quota management change proposals was not published in the period January to March 2007, as envisaged in his Department's Autumn 2006 edition of Fishing Focus; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1624W.

Floods

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 978W, on floods, whether the Environment Agency charges for access to, or reproduction of, the additional flood mapping data and flood defence information referred to.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency provides access to additional flood mapping data and flood defence information which is not available on its internet site, or otherwise already reasonably accessible to the public, without charge up to the "appropriate limit" set by the Freedom of Information Act. In the agency's case, this is £450. The agency's standard licence terms and conditions allow members of the public to reproduce the information.

Hazardous Substances: Brofiscin Quarry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Environment Agency has taken to identify those responsible for dumping of toxic waste at Brofiscin Quarry; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: This matter is within the devolved responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Hazardous Substances: Waste Management

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) licensed and  (b) unlicensed toxic dumps in England need remedial action; what each site contains; who is responsible for taking remedial action; what the estimated cost of remedial action is at each site; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating licensed landfill sites in England and Wales. Landfill sites are categorised as inert, non-hazardous and hazardous as a requirement of the Landfill Directive. There are 16 commercial landfill sites permitted to take hazardous waste and there are nine non-commercial sites that are restricted by waste type. There are a further 48 landfill sites that have permits that allow disposal of limited quantities of particular stable non-reactive hazardous wastes in separate contained cells.
	There are approximately 1,596 closed landfill sites that are still authorised under a waste management licence. The Environment Agency estimates that 20 per cent. of these sites may have taken 'special/hazardous or difficult waste' and a review of the impact of all closed sites is under way.
	Due to the age of some of the sites and the nature of the legislation prior to 1990 it is not possible to list the content of each of these sites.
	Any remedial action required by the Environment Agency at regulated sites would be carried out by and at the expense of the permit or licence holder. The Environment Agency is not responsible for carrying out this work and does not record costs associated with this work.

Heating: EC Law

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what matters were  (a) discussed and  (b) agreed at the consultation forum on boilers and water heaters in respect of implementation of the Energy-using Products Directive held on 29 February; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Consultation Forum meetings are an opportunity for the European Commission to discuss their proposals for an implementing measure under the Framework Directive for the eco design of Energy using Products (EuP) with member state representatives and stakeholders. The Consultation Forum is not a decision-making body. The meetings are a first public discussion of the proposals, and are not intended to reach agreement.
	At the meeting on 29 February, member states and industry representatives gave initial reactions to the proposals contained in the Commission's Working Document issued on 31 January.
	The formal minutes of the meeting will be available on the Commission's website in due course.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Rural Areas

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with HM Treasury on the possible effects reducing the Warm Front grant will have on the 21 per cent. of rural fuel poor who live in settlements of fewer than 10,000 people;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of reducing the annual Warm Front grant relating to energy efficiency levels in settlements of fewer than 10,000 people classified as  (a) hard to reach and  (b) hard to treat.

Phil Woolas: As confirmed in the Government's 5th Annual Report on the UK's Fuel Poverty Strategy published in December 2007, funding for the Warm Front Scheme for 2008-11 period will be just over £800 million.
	DEFRA has had no discussions with HM Treasury regarding the impact of the scheme on rural fuel poor during this period.
	No direct assessment of the environmental impact of the annual Warm Front grant relating to energy efficiency levels in settlements of fewer than 10,000 people has taken place.
	Warm Front will continue to actively target hard to reach and hard to treat properties including those in rural settlements to help improve the energy efficiency of those households.

Landfill Tax

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 981W, on landfill tax, what the notional financial value in 2007-08 is of the 0.2 per cent. reduction in employer's national insurance contribution.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Structural reforms to employers' national insurance contributions in 1999 mean that it is not possible to calculate the current notional value of the 0.2 percentage point rate reduction that accompanied the introduction of landfill tax.

Landfill Tax

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 981W, on landfill tax, what the estimated revenue in landfill tax in each of the next three years is.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Forecast landfill tax receipts for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are published in Table B8 of the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F/9/pbr_csr07_annexb _305.pdf

Marine and Fisheries Agency: Manpower

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff at each  (a) grade and  (b) job title were employed in the Marine and Fisheries Agency in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Marine and Fisheries Agency was created on 1 October 2005, and the first available staff numbers are as at 31 October 2005. The number of staff in full-time equivalents at each grade equivalent in each year is shown in the following table. Job titles are not generally used.
	
		
			   31 October 2005  31 March 2006  31 March 2007  31 December 2007 
			 AA 19.79 25.49 18.87 23.27 
			 AO 30.76 31.76 27.95 32.76 
			 EO 50.00 56.00 50.00 54.80 
			 HEO 23.00 22.41 22.00 24.00 
			 SEO 15.00 16.00 15.00 20.00 
			 Grade 7 7.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 
			 Grade 6 1.00 1.00 3.00 3.00 
			 SCS 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 
			  
			 Total 147.55 160.65 145.82 167.83

Marine and Fisheries Agency: Manpower

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether there are plans for staff reductions at the Marine and Fisheries Agency in the next three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Marine and Fisheries Agency has no plans at present to reduce staff numbers over the next three financial years. MFA has already achieved headcount targets and will continue to review staffing levels in order to meet its business objectives and any wider departmental efficiency requirements.

Oikos: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice the Environment Agency has provided to Oikos on Canvey Island on remedial work in respect of their operations; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Oikos Storage Ltd. undertakes a variety of operations at its site in Haven road, Canvey Island. These range from liquid hazardous waste storage and treatment to the filtration and refinement of waste fuels, including oils and tallow.
	The Environment Agency regulates these activities through compliance assessment and enforcement of the current waste management licence and the pollution prevention control (PPC) permit.
	The Environment Agency is not aware of any ongoing remedial works. However, the PPC permit requires several improvement conditions to be met. These include reviewing the integrity of the storage tanks and improving bunding arrangements and site surfacing. Other improvement conditions required include the reduction of risk of pollution from fire water and major spillages, a review of the type of boiler fuel used to reduce potential emissions, and measures to control both gaseous emissions and discharges to the Thames estuary.
	The Environment Agency is awaiting the outcome of the review from Oikos and will enter into discussions with the company should any improvements be required.

Pollution Control: Nitrous Oxide

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the permitted levels of nitrous oxide emissions from incinerators are under European legislation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made for benchmarking purposes of the performance of other EU member states and the US in reducing nitrous oxide emissions from incinerators; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  when his Department last reviewed the permitted levels of nitrous oxide emissions from incinerators; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 7 March 2008
	The Waste Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC) does not specify any limits for emissions of nitrous oxide from incinerators.
	The Best Available Techniques Reference Document ("BREF") for waste incineration published by the European Commission quotes measured values of nitrous oxide for well-performing municipal waste incinerators in Europe of 1-12 mg/m(3) with an average of 1-2 mg/m(3). We have no equivalent figures for incinerators in the United States.
	Permits issued by the Environment Agency for incineration plants do not impose an emission limit value for nitrous oxide but require periodic monitoring (twice a year) where ammonia or urea is used for abatement oxides of nitrogen. In addition, applicants for new incinerators are required to include nitrous oxide emissions in their assessment of the global warming potential of the plant.

Poultry: EC Law

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department plans to give to farmers on the interpretation of Council Directive 2007/43/EC on poultry stocking density.

Jonathan R Shaw: Council Directive 2007/43/EC on the protection of meat chickens will come into force on 30 June 2010.
	The directive will be implemented in England through an amendment to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. The devolved Administrations will similarly transpose the directive in their legislation.
	As with all new legislation, appropriate guidance will be issued. The legislation and associated guidance will be the subject of a full public consultation exercise.

Seas and Oceans: EU Action

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) penalties his Department has faced from the European Commission in relation to marine and fisheries policy and its administration,  (b) criticisms the European Commission has raised in relation to UK marine and fisheries policy and its administration and  (c) disallowances and financial sanctions his Department has faced in relation to UK marine and fisheries policy and its administration in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The European Commission (EC) periodically looks at legislation which implements EC obligations and, either as a result of this or of a complaint received, any perceived failures or criticisms are dealt with in accordance with the infraction procedures set out in the treaty. The UK has never received a fine, disallowance or any other penalty as a result of these procedures.

Seas and Oceans: Nature Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to submit the first candidate offshore special area of conservation to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has been consulting on seven offshore marine sites since December 2007. These include: Braemar Pockmarks, Darwin Mounds, Haig Fras, North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef, Scanner Pockmark, Stanton Banks and Wyville Thomson Ridge. The consultation is due to close on 14 March 2008.
	Following consultation, the JNCC may recommend to the Government that these sites be submitted to the European Commission for consideration as European offshore marine sites. If the Government then decide to submit these sites to the European Commission, it is expected that the submission will be made before September this year.

Sewage: Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department has on  (a) the energy consumption of sewage treatment in the UK and  (b) the energy saving potential of urine separation.

Phil Woolas: Treating and pumping wastewater consumes energy and releases greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gas emissions from the water sector were mapped for the first time in "Future Water—The Government's Water Strategy for England", which was published in February 2008. Over 2.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, as carbon dioxide equivalents, are emitted from the treatment of wastewater every year.
	The use of urine separation systems has the potential to help reduce emissions, save water and reduce wastewater treatment costs. However, while urine-separation toilets would be relatively easy to install, it would also be necessary to adapt associated domestic pipe work and fit on-site storage facilities. Existing public sewerage systems have been developed to carry away all foul water from premises. To alter these systems in order to separate waste streams would be costly and impractical, but could be considered in new developments with discrete sewerage infrastructure.

Sustainable Development: Flood Control

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on inclusion of sustainable urban drainage systems in new housing or community developments; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such systems.

Phil Woolas: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has received a range of representations on the inclusion of sustainable drainage systems in new housing or community developments. We expect to receive more during the course of the consultation on Surface Water Drainage, which was recently published alongside the Government's water strategy, 'Future Water'.
	As part of the impact assessment to accompany the current consultation on Surface Water Drainage, DEFRA has made a quantitative assessment of the benefits of implementing sustainable drainage systems in relation to reducing localised flooding. The benefits to water quality are also outlined in the impact assessment but have not yet been quantified.

Trapping

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his timetable is for publishing a review of his Department's Snares Action Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Department aims to complete a review of the Department's Snares Action Plan by the end of this year and to publish it as soon as practicable.

Waste Disposal: Domestic Wastes

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 10 January 2008,  Official Report, column 753W, on waste disposal: domestic wastes, what plans he has to apply charges for household waste disposal to civic amenity sites in the pilot areas for schemes to incentivise the reduction of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: As stated in the Climate Change Bill, the Government have no plans to apply charges for household waste under waste incentive schemes to civic amenity sites. Residents will be able to use their civic amenity site in exactly the same way as now.

Waste Disposal: Hazardous Substances

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much and what proportion of the UK's hazardous waste was treated and stored in Gloucestershire in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer  29 January 2008
	According to Environment Agency records, 112,410 tonnes of hazardous waste was deposited in Gloucestershire in 2006, the most recent period for which figures are available. This figure does include waste transfer, so the waste may ultimately be disposed of outside the county.
	6,037,068 tonnes of hazardous waste was produced in the UK in that year, making Gloucestershire's share 1.86 per cent. of the UK total.

Waste Management: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 30 October 2007,  Official Report, column 1181W, on waste management: fees and charges, what provisions apply to the collection of household waste from charged-for receptacles where the householder provides their own receptacles to the necessary specifications.

Joan Ruddock: The provisions relating to a local authority's duty to collect waste are set out in section 45 and section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
	As set out in section 46(3), the same provisions apply whether authorities:
	(i) provide the receptacles free of charge;
	(ii) provide the receptacles and ask the occupier to pay for them;
	(iii) require the occupier to provide the receptacles himself if he does not agree to pay for them within a specified period; or
	(iv) require the occupier to provide the receptacles himself from the outset.

Waste Management: Finance

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding from  (a) the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste Programme and  (b) other funding streams within his responsibility has been provided to (i) the Carbon Trust, (ii) Envirowise, (iii) the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme and (iv) Wrap in (A) 2005-06 and (B) 2006-07; and what the volume was of (1) landfill diverted (tonnes), (2) carbon dioxide emissions averted, (3) virgin materials not used, (4) hazardous waste reduced and (5) amount of water saved (tonnes) as a result of this expenditure.

Joan Ruddock: DEFRA's Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) programme is returning £284 million raised from the landfill tax escalator back to businesses between 2005 and 2008. Work is being taken forward to improve businesses' resource efficiency and to minimise waste that is unnecessarily sent to landfill. Funds are awarded to a number of regional and national BREW delivery bodies. Allocations for 2005 to 2007 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Delivery body  Budget 2005-06  Budget 2006-07 
			 Action Sustainability 0 0.219 
			 Carbon Trust 3 23.382 
			 DEFRA's Waste Data Strategy 0.5 2.1 
			 Environment Agency 2 4.454 
			 Envirowise 12 16.772 
			 Market Transformation Programme 2.65 2.8955 
			 National Industrial Symbiosis Programme 2.675 5.7 
			 Regional Development Agencies 5 11.71 
			 Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts—Business Reuse Fund 0 2 
			 Technology Strategy Board 2 5.654 
			 WRAP 2.854 6.288 
			 Other (includes coordination, communication, pilot projects, funding for agricultural waste project and programme contingency fund) 0.321 3.24 
			 Total 33 84.415 
		
	
	The BREW Programme has also continued to provide funding towards other business resource efficiency and waste activities in England, as shown:
	
		
			  Delivery body  Activity  2006-07 funding (£ million) 
			 Carbon Trust Energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction activities 13.618 
			 WRAP Work with the construction, manufacturing, retail and recycling and reprocessing industries to reduce waste and encourage recycling 4.7 
			 Total  18.318 
		
	
	In 2005-06, the delivery bodies referred to in the question achieved the short-term savings aggregated in the following table. These show the results for £18.5 million of all £33 million of projects funded from the BREW Programme.
	The results must be viewed with caution, since delivery bodies report according to a range of methodologies. Work is under way to improve consistency of this reporting and to apply reporting more widely. The results are only for BREW-funded activities. Some savings will result from these interventions in future years, which are not counted here.
	
		
			  Metric  In-year result 
			 Waste diverted from landfill 675,000 tonnes 
			 Carbon savings 320,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide 
			 Virgin raw material savings 682,000 tonnes 
			 Hazardous waste savings 120,000 tonnes 
			 Water savings 5,630,000 cubic metres 
		
	
	DEFRA has not yet released individual delivery body results for 2005-06. These include some selected long-term results, which are not included in the aforementioned table. Similarly, work is currently underway to verify BREW Programme results for 2006-07. I will deposit both sets of results in the House Library when they are ready.
	In addition to funding from the BREW Programme, DEFRA has provided the following funding to the delivery bodies as follows. NISP has not received any non-BREW funding from DEFRA.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2005-06  2006-07 
			 Carbon Trust 57.6 41.644 
			 Envirowise 2.292 2.292 
			 WRAP 67.605 51.58

Waste Management: Finance

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was allocated to each organisation in the business resource efficiency and waste partnership for  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 18 December 2007
	 Final allocations for the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) Programme are set out as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Delivery body  Budget 2005-06  Budget 2006-07 
			 Action Sustainability 0 0.219 
			 Carbon Trust 3 23.382 
			 DEFRA's Waste Data Strategy 0.5 2.1 
			 Environment Agency 2 4.454 
			 Envirowise 12 16.772 
			 Market Transformation Programme 2.65 2.8955 
			 National Industrial Symbiosis Programme 2.675 5.7 
			 Regional Development Agencies 5 11.71 
			 Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts—Business Reuse Fund 0 2 
			 Technology Strategy Board 2 5.654 
			 WRAP 2.854 6.288 
			 Other (includes coordination, communication, pilot projects, funding for agricultural waste project and programme contingency fund) 0.321 3.24 
			 Total 33 84.415 
		
	
	BREW has also provided funding towards other business resource efficiency and waste activities in England, including £18.318 million in 2006-07 for the following:
	
		
			  Delivery body  Activity  2006-07 funding (£ million) 
			 Carbon Trust Energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction activities 13.618 
			 WRAP Work with the construction, manufacturing, retail and recycling and reprocessing industries to reduce waste and encourage recycling 4.7 
			 Total  18.318 
		
	
	These demonstrate that over the two year period from 2005 to 2007, at least £135 million of funding has been spent by DEFRA on business resource efficiency activities through the three years of the BREW programme.

Waste Management: Finance

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding has been allocated by his Department to the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme for financial year 2008-09.

Joan Ruddock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2274W.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council: Local Government Finance

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much Bury Metropolitan Borough Council received from the Government in  (a) revenue and  (b) specific grant in each year since the introduction of council tax; and what the percentage change in revenue grant was in each such year.

John Healey: The level of annual central Government revenue grant, the percentage change from the previous year and total specific grants awarded to Bury Metropolitan borough council since council tax was introduced is tabled as follows.
	
		
			 £000 
			   Central Government revenue grant( 1)  (£000)  Percentage change from previous year  Specific grants within AEF  Specific grants outside AEF  Total specific grants 
			 1993-94 86,867 — 6,359 25,844 32,203 
			 1994-95 93,410 7.5 6,902 25,034 31,936 
			 1995-96 95,033 1.7 6,219 25,839 32,058 
			 1996-97 97,357 2.4 5,744 25,950 31,694 
			 1997-98 95,044 -2.4 4,601 28,058 32,659 
			 1998-99 103,034 8.4 5,201 25,576 30,777 
			 1999-2000 108,971 5.8 6,603 25,502 32,105 
			 2000-01 118,915 9.1 11,908 23,567 35,475 
			 2001-02 125,262 5.3 15,601 22,683 38,284 
			 2002-03 135,070 7.8 21,411 28,892 50,303 
			 2003-04 155,201 14.9 27,393 25,168 52,561 
			 2004-05 170,860 10.1 33,863 47,464 81,327 
			 2005-06 181,131 6.0 35,932 72,999 108,931 
			 2006-07 190,238 5.0 133,582 58,891 192,473 
			 (1) Includes specific grants within AEF.  Source: Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns 
		
	
	Figures are as supplied by the local authority to Communities and Local Government.
	The large change in specific grants within Aggregate External Finance (AEF) from 2005-06 to 2006-07 is because local authorities now receive funding for schools through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) (a specific grant within AEF) rather than as part of formula grant.
	Most of the increase in specific grants outside AEF between 2003-04 and 2004-05 is because rent rebates paid to Housing Revenue Account (HRA) tenants are, from 2004-05, paid through the general fund revenue account rather than the HRA account.
	Most of the volatility in specific grants outside AEF between 2004-05 and 2006-07 relates to Connexions grant. The purpose of this grant is to support the delivery of Connexions Services to young people; providing information, advice, guidance and access to personal development opportunities.
	Central Government revenue grant is defined here as the sum of Formula grant (Revenue Support Grant, Police grant, General GLA grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and Specific grants within Aggregate External Finance (AEF) but excludes specific grants outside AEF.
	Specific grants within AEF are defined here as those revenue grants paid for council's core services (e.g. Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and Standards Fund).
	Specific grants outside AEF are defined here as those revenue grants that are not for authority's core services, but are passed to a third party (e.g. rent allowances and rebates).
	The aforementioned grants exclude capital grants, funding for the local authority's housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authority is simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities.

Debt Collection: Standards

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who in her Department is responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Standards for Enforcement Agents by local authorities; what compliance checks were undertaken in 2007; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Maria Eagle) on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 965-6W.

Departmental Impact Assessments

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many regulatory impact assessments her Department has conducted in the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: Information on the final Regulatory Impact Assessments published between 1 January and 30 June 2007 can be found in Command Paper 7297, available at:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm72/7297/7297.pdf
	For Communities and Local Government, 12 have been listed.
	Departments are in the process of identifying the final Regulatory Impact Assessments published between 1 July and 31 December 2007.
	From April 2008, all final Impact Assessment will be published on a central website.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people over the age of 55 have been recruited by her Department and its predecessors in each of the last three years.

Parmjit Dhanda: The following table gives the numbers of recruits to the Department aged over 55 for each of the past three years. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	
		
			   Recruits over age 55 
			 2006 10 
			 2005 40 
			 2004 30 
		
	
	These figures exclude our executive agencies or the Government offices. Temporary agency staff or other workers who are not departmental employees are also excluded.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the  (a) number of households and  (b) size of the population in each waste collection authority area in England.

Iain Wright: A table showing information on households and population figures for 2004 by local authority has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Fire Prevention

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in England received home fire safety advice in 2007 in the most recent year for which figures are most recently available, broken down by fire authority.

Parmjit Dhanda: For the year ending September 2007 (the most recent information available) fire and rescue services in England carried out 555,253 home fire risk checks. This is broken down by fire and rescue authority area in the following table:
	
		
			  Fire and rescue authority  Home fire risk checks undertaken 
			 Avon 2,872 
			 Bedfordshire/Luton 3,971 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,123 
			 Cambridgeshire 5,666 
			 Cheshire 38,281 
			 Cleveland 22,469 
			 Cornwall 20,635 
			 Cumbria 11,340 
			 Derbyshire 5,994 
			 Devon(1) 2,051 
			 Devon and Somerset(1) 3,380 
			 Dorset 2,312 
			 Durham 11,166 
			 East Sussex 8,574 
			 Essex 3,513 
			 Greater Manchester 21,491 
			 Gloucestershire 2,110 
			 Hampshire 9,548 
			 Hereford 2,632 
			 Hertfordshire 3,328 
			 Humber 14,110 
			 Isle of Scilly 34 
			 Isle of Wight 2,144 
			 Kent 7,173 
			 Lancashire 39,614 
			 Leicestershire 10,401 
			 Lincoln 1,633 
			 London 44,813 
			 Merseyside 31,657 
			 Norfolk 1,908 
			 Northamptonshire 2,845 
			 Northumberland 3,765 
			 North Yorkshire 5,899 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,518 
			 Oxfordshire 3,118 
			 Royal Berkshire 998 
			 Shropshire 31,540 
			 Somerset(1) 663 
			 South Yorkshire 14,294 
			 Staffordshire 13,760 
			 Suffolk 1,571 
			 Surrey 3,539 
			 Tyne and Wear 21,357 
			 Warwickshire 2,284 
			 West Midlands 40,920 
			 West Sussex 5,884 
			 West Yorkshire 59,850 
			 Wiltshire 1,505 
			   
			 Total 555,253 
			 (1) Devon and Somerset fire authorities merged in April 2007. The data prior to April 2007 are given separately.

Fires

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many primary fires there were in each  (a) fire authority and  (b) region in each year since 1986.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested has been deposited in the Library of the House.

Floods: Planning

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 229W, on flooding: planning, what the location was of each site for which planning application was approved contrary to Environment Agency objection on grounds of flood risk in each year since 2001.

Iain Wright: Information identifying the planning applications approved contrary to the Environment Agency's objections on flood risk grounds is set out in Appendix 3 to the agency's annual High Level Target 5 reports to CLG and DEFRA on development and flood risk for the years 2002-03 to 2006-07. This identifies the district in which the application was submitted, although it does not include the precise location of each site. This information will be obtainable from the local planning authorities which approved the applications listed in Appendix 3 to each report. The latest report is available on the Environment Agency's website at:
	http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/512398/908812/1351053/571633/952531/
	Earlier reports are available on request from the agency.

Floods: Planning

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 229W, on flood: planning, what the location was of each planning application recorded by the Environment Agency as approved contrary to its objections on flood risk in each year since 2001.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today. (PQ 191639).

Government Office for London

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to grant the Government office for London powers to examine and report on the expenditure of  (a) the Greater London Authority and  (b) the London Development Agency.

Parmjit Dhanda: There are no plans to enhance the Government office for London's role in relation to the expenditure of the Greater London Authority or London Development Agency.

Home Information Packs

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research her Department has undertaken into the number of houses marketed in each of the energy performance certificate bands.

Caroline Flint: No research has been undertaken on the number of houses marketed in each of the energy performance bands. However information on SAP ratings for the whole housing stock is published as part of the English House Condition Survey (EHCS). The 2006 EHCS Headline Report, published in January 2008, presented the number of homes in each energy performance certificate band.

Housing Market: Empty Property

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to collect data in respect of spending on empty properties under market renewal programmes; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Pathfinders and local authorities independently collect information specific to their needs and this often relates to empty properties where appropriate and relevant. The relative balance of such spending from pathfinder to pathfinder varies widely, reflecting their different market circumstances and investment programmes.
	Vacancy rates across the housing market renewal areas have fallen since the programme began in 2002 from 5.09 per cent. to 4.27 per cent. in 2006, representing a fall of 16 per cent. over the period. We expect these figures to continue to fall further towards targets of 1.65 per cent. for the North-West and 1.35 per cent. for Yorkshire and the Humber by 2016.
	We have introduced Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) and other measures to enable local authorities to bring long-term empty homes back into use as a last resort where owners have declined voluntary measures and have no plans to bring their properties back into use.
	We are working with the Empty Homes Agency to ensure that all local authorities implement effective empty property strategies that target properties left empty for long periods of time.

Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to publish the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix for 2007.

Iain Wright: The Department intends to publish information collected from local authorities in the 2007 Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix as soon as possible.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with HM Treasury on standardisation of the definition of a zero-carbon house.

Iain Wright: Discussions about the definition of a zero-carbon house have been held, and are on-going between my Department and Treasury as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such meetings.

Housing: Construction

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 438-40W, on housing: construction, if she will provide the absolute figure for the 50 per cent. of the new build activity for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: It is not possible to provide absolute figures because information on type and number of bedrooms is collected centrally from only one sector of the building control industry. To present this information could lead to the disclosure of market sensitive information.

Housing: Construction

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding sources contribute to the Housing Corporation's new build programme; and what the total funding for the programme was in the last year for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: The Housing Corporation receives grant from this Department to fund its Affordable Housing programme. In 2006-07 the Housing Corporation spent a total of £1.9 billion through its Affordable Housing programme on the provision of new affordable housing for social rent and low cost home ownership.
	Schemes within the programme are funded through a variety of sources including borrowing by registered social landlords; registered social landlords own resources and contributions through other public bodies.

Housing: Low Incomes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid for  (a) gap funding for registered social landlords after large-scale voluntary transfers,  (b) costs of establishing large-scale voluntary transfers,  (c) annual grants to arms length management organisations (ALMOs),  (d) costs of establishing and grants to new ALMOs and  (e) regional social housing grants for new holdings in each year since 2005-06; and how much has been allocated for each in each year until 2010-11.

Iain Wright: Capital funding support to arms length management organisations (ALMOs) is allocated in the form of supported capital expenditure allowances within the housing revenue account subsidy system. The Department does not hold a record centrally of the costs of establishing ALMOs.
	The following table sets outs the funding information requested. The allocations for future years are those that have been made following CSR07. Final allocations for each year have yet to be determined.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Outturn  Outturn  Forecast
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2011-12 
			  (a) Gap funding for RSLs 37.6 million 21.918 million 80 million 240 million 
			  (b) Costs of establishing LSVTs(1) 15.33 million 27.78 million 27.87 million Not known 
			  (c) ALMO supported capital expenditure 854 million 845 million 925 million 2.4 billion 
			  (e) Housing Corporation affordable housing programme 1.6 billion 1.9 billion 2 billion 8.4 billion 
			 1 These figures include both local authority and RSL set up costs. We do not hold separate figures.

Housing: Migration

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what ways her Department is improving the information available on migrants and housing; and how she plans to make this information available  (a) locally and  (b) nationally.

Iain Wright: The Department collects information in the Survey of English Housing on the nationality of the main householder and, for those born outside the UK, the year of arrival in the UK. This survey ends in April 2008 and is being replaced by a similar survey. The new survey will include a set of core questions covering nationality, country of birth and year of arrival for all members of every household interviewed for the survey. This will provide a more robust picture on migrants and housing than is currently available.
	Findings from the 2007-08 Survey of English Housing will be available from end-2008. The first findings from the new English Housing Survey will be available from end-2009.
	Information on social lettings is collected by St. Andrews university on behalf of the Housing Corporation and the Department through the Continuous Recording of Lettings (CORE). This includes information on the characteristics of new tenants, including nationality. Information from CORE is published on the CORE website www.core.ac.uk. The Department is working with St. Andrews university to improve the participation of local authorities in CORE.
	We are also working with local authorities to provide better information on numbers of homelessness acceptances for foreign nationals on the P1E statutory homelessness form.
	The Department has also published revised 2004-based household projections. These are linked to the Office for National Statistics' revised sub-national population projections, that used an improved methodology for estimating the distribution of international migration across England.

Housing: Planning Permission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government is taking to  (a) extend and  (b) curtail permitted development rights for householders.

Iain Wright: In November 2007 the Government published their responses to consultations on permitted development rights for householders, including householder micro-generation. In general, forthcoming changes will extend permitted development rights. Householders will have more scope to extend their homes under permitted development up to maximum dimensions designed to ensure no adverse impact on neighbours. There will also be a separate allowance for loft extensions. Local authorities will be able to introduce local variations using Local Development Orders to provide greater freedom for development and Article 4 Directions to restrict permitted development where greater protection is needed.
	Permitted development rights will be restricted in a similar way to the current rules in designated areas, such as conservation areas. The Government have also announced that planning permission will be required for paving front gardens where the surface is impermeable. This change is designed to reduce the risk of flooding from rapid surface runoff of rainwater.

Housing: Standards

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes were judged to be of poor quality in the  (a) social rented and  (b) private sector in (i) Cornwall, (ii) the South West and (iii) England in each year since 1979.

Iain Wright: Statutory definitions of "poor quality" housing have changed between 1979 and present so there is no consistent set of information that allows comparison over the whole time period. The 1989 Local Government and Housing Act updated the then current fitness assessment and this revised measure remained in place until April 2006 (when it was replaced by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System).
	Nationally, the English House Condition Survey is used to monitor conditions and was carried out and reported every five years until 2001 and annually from 2003. The survey provides the following national estimates for fitness from 1991 to 2006, table 1:
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of homes not meeting the Fitness Standard in England by sector, 1991-2006 
			  Number (thousand) 
			   Social  Private 
			 1991 339 1,159 
			 1996 301 1,171 
			 2001 181 722 
			 2003 196 808 
			 2004 193 792 
			 2005 183 720 
			 2006 175 707 
			  Base: All dwellings  Note: The increase between 2001 and 2003 is not statistically significant and estimates between these two years may have been affected by changes in the sample design of the survey which was reorganised to provide annual results from 2003.  Source: English House Condition Survey 
		
	
	Information on 'unfit' dwellings is collected by local authorities in the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) and numbers are available for private sector dwellings for the last 10 years covering Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly) and the South West of England, table 2 as follows. However records for social housing have not been collected on a sufficiently consistent basis over this period to provide reliable estimates for these areas.
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of unfit private sector dwellings in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and the South West, as reported by local authorities 
			   Cornwall and Isles of Scilly  South West 
			 1997 22,414 116,566 
			 1998 22,077 115,815 
			 1999 22,584 119,109 
			 2000 21,402 112,384 
			 2001 21,767 107,619 
			 2002 21,618 105,322 
			 2003 18,178 101,967 
			 2004 10,382 85,508 
			 2005 11,900 85,349 
			 2006 10,643 85,614 
			  Note: Data as reported by local authorities. These figures may be affected by non-reporting of numbers of unfit dwellings, and will be dependent on overall stock figures.  Source: Communities and Local Government Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix Return (HSSA), from section A.

Housing: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what use her Department is planning to make of Valuation Office Agency data for the purposes of housing and delivery grant allocation.

Iain Wright: The Government published the draft allocation criteria for the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant in October 2007 for consultation which closed on 17 January. We will set out the financial allocation criteria in due course, taking account of the views expressed in the consultation.
	As part of this, we are considering what sources of information are appropriate, including summary information from the Valuation Office Agency on changes in dwelling numbers by local authority.

Local Authorities: Housing

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what value of equity is held in housing stock by each local authority in England.

Iain Wright: The Department does not hold data on the value of equity held in housing stock by each local authority in England. Neither does it hold data that would enable the calculation of the value of equity for that stock.
	A table has been deposited in the Library of the House showing the value of the stock for local housing authorities in England at January 1999 prices—data the Department holds for the purpose of the calculation of assumed rent levels in the Housing Revenue Account subsidy system. The table also shows the level of housing debt in that authority in 1998-99 and 2006-07, the latest year for which we have audited data.

Ministerial Duties: West Midlands

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2008,  Official Report, column 770W, on Ministerial Duties: West Midlands, how much time the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill has spent on his regional ministerial brief in each week since his appointment as Minister for the West Midlands.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 17 January 2008
	Regional Ministers divide their time between their roles as regional Minister, departmental Minister and constituency Member of Parliament. The amount of time devoted to each role varies from week to week according to events in the region and the Minister's other commitments.

National Security

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role her Department has played in drafting the National Security Strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department is working closely with the Cabinet Office and other interested Departments and agencies to produce the National Security Strategy.

Noise: Aviation

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether increased noise from an airport expanding in size or frequency of aircraft would be considered a material change by the Valuation Office Agency for the purposes of a council tax valuation.

John Healey: A proposal could validly be made seeking a reduction in the valuation band provided changes to the physical state of the locality have occurred which demonstrably affect property values, and that impact on value is sufficient to move the property into a lower band. Increases in frequency or noise from aircraft alone, which are not connected with physical development of an airport, would not be viewed by the VOA as a valid basis for making a proposal.

Planning

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) budget and  (b) completion date was of the (i) future of building control, (ii) Councillors' Commission, (iii) evaluation of Social HomeBuy, (iv) review of the future governance of the planning portal, (v) review of land use and (vi) review of shared equity projects.

Iain Wright: holding answer 29 February 2008
	 The information requested is as follows.
	(i) Future of building control:  (a) estimated budget is £42,400, excluding CLG staff costs,  (b) The work was completed in February and the consultation paper will be published shortly.
	(ii) Councillors' Commission:  (a) budget of £500,000, excluding CLG staff costs,  (b) The Councillors Commission Report: "Representing the Future" was published on 10 December 2007.
	(iii) Evaluation of Social HomeBuy:  (a) estimated budget is £189,734, excluding CLG staff costs,  (b) the work was completed on 15 February 2008 and the report will be published in due course.
	(iv) Review of future governance of the planning portal:  (a) overall budget is £250,000 excluding CLG staff costs,  (b) Work is due to be completed by March 2008.
	(v) Barker Review of land use planning:  (a) estimated budget is £356,679.  (b) the report was published on 5 December 2006.
	(vi) Brian Pomeroy's Review of the shared equity market:  (a) estimated budget is £4,250;  (b) the review is due to be completed in March.

Planning Permission: Playing Fields

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will require the owners of sports grounds to obtain the agreement of the local planning authority before their land ceases to be used for sporting activities; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Unless there are relevant conditions attached to a planning permission for a sports ground, or specific requirements, for example in a covenant, there are no powers available to a local planning authority to require the owner to seek their agreement to cease using their land for sporting activities.
	If it is proposed subsequently to develop the land, the developer would normally need to make an application to the local planning authority for planning permission. When considering the planning application, the local authority would need to have regard to the national planning policies including those in Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 (PPG 17) "Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation". Paragraph 10 of PPG 17 states that
	"Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land should not be built on unless an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space or the buildings and land to be surplus to requirements".

Regional Government: Ministers

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1533W, on regional government: Ministers, on how many occasions each regional Minister has visited each of the constituencies in their region referred to in the answer.

Parmjit Dhanda: A table showing the number of Regional Minister visits to constituencies mentioned in the answer of 21 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1533W has been deposited in the Library of the House. Some of these visits have taken place since the publication of the answer. In addition, regional Ministers have since made visits to constituencies not mentioned in the previous answer.
	Due to the role of regional Minister, which involves regional or sub-regional meetings, the Minister may not have visited a constituency per se, but attended a meeting held in that area.

Regional Ministers

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of regional Ministers against their stated objectives; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: While no formal assessment has yet been made of their effectiveness, Regional Ministers have been actively pursuing those roles set out for them in the Governance of Britain Green Paper published in July 2007. They have helped ensure that the development and delivery of Government policy takes account of the key issues facing their regions, both by engaging with a wide range of regional partners in meetings and dedicated visits and by representing their regions within Government. Regional Ministers have also been involved in the appointment of Regional Development Agency chairs and boards, while their relation to forthcoming regional committees will be determined over the coming months following the Modernisation Committee's inquiry into regional accountability.

Regional Planning and Development: Travelling People

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost was of the East of England Regional Assembly's consultation on the draft revision to the Regional Spatial Strategy on the provision of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the East of England.

Iain Wright: The East of England regional assembly's total budget for 2007-08 for consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy Single Issue Review: Planning for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the East of England (February 2008) was £30,000. This comprised £20,000 to commission the Ormiston Trust to consult Gypsy and Traveller communities, £5,000 for printing and distributing hard copies of the consultation documents and £5,000 for six county-wide consultation events. The precise figures spent on the Single Issue Review will be established after the end of this financial year. In addition, there were costs of £9,000 for the Sustainability Appraisal which was conducted on the Single Issue Review.

Regional Planning and Development: Travelling People

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the projected cost is of GO East's consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy Single Issue Review: planning for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the East of England.

Iain Wright: The projected budget for GO-East's consultation on the Regional Spatial Strategy Single Issue Review: Planning for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the East of England is approximately £7,000. This comprises £6,000 for consultation software, with the remainder due to costs associated with holding two consultation events.

Regional Planning and Development: West Midlands

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the factors to which local planning authorities and regional planning bodies must have regard as set out in paragraph 33 of Planning Policy Statement 3 (Housing), what the  (a) remit and  (b) scope is of her Department's study of the level of housing development in the West Midlands; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: My noble friend Baroness Andrews has asked the Government office for the West Midlands (GOWM) to commission further work to inform the Examination in Public of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Phase 2 revision. This study will look at options which could deliver higher housing numbers with a view to improving affordability within the region. The study will be submitted as evidence to the independent panel at the Examination in Public of the Phase 2 RSS revision for testing.
	The scope of the study, as stated in the brief for the work, is to develop and appraise alternative options for accommodating housing and associated growth above the levels in the submitted draft Phase 2 RSS Revision. The options should be capable of delivering the levels of housing suggested in the initial National Housing and Planning Advice Unit response to the Housing Green Paper but should maintain as many of the key principles of the RSS as possible.

Regional Planning and Development: West Midlands

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the implications for the protection of  (a) greenfield sites and  (b) green belt land in the West Midlands of the planned level of housing development (i) set out in the West Midlands Spatial Strategy and (ii) most recently proposed.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has appointed an independent panel to consider the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Phase 2 revision which sets out planned levels of housing development for the West Midlands. In addition, my noble Friend Baroness Andrews has requested the Government office for the West Midlands to commission work to look at housing options which could deliver higher housing numbers than those set out in the Phase 2 Revision.
	The implications of both the Phase 2 revision and the options generated through the study on both greenfield sites and green belt land will be issues the Panel will need to consider at Examination. At this stage, it is inappropriate for the Secretary of State to comment on emerging proposals for housing development and the evidence underpinning these in advance of the Examination in Public as these matters need to be independently tested. Furthermore, as the Secretary of State has a statutory role in the issuing of the final RSS, any comments at this stage on the merits of emerging proposals could prejudice her future decision-making role.

Regional Planning and Development: Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber next plans to meet Yorkshire Forward to discuss Government funding for transport infrastructure in Yorkshire and the Humber; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: I understand that my right hon. Friend the Regional Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber has already met with Yorkshire Forward on at least four occasions since her appointment on 25 January 2008 and will continue to meet with them on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues relevant to the economic development of the region, including transport.

Tenants: Deposits

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many disputes arising out of secure deposits schemes were taken to court by tenants or their representatives in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: This information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tenants: Deposits

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average duration of arbitration on disputes on secure deposit schemes was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, under the terms of their contacts with my Department, each provider for the Deposit Protection Service must submit a monthly report giving details of performance against key performance indicators. The providers incur penalty points if key targets are not met. Resolution of disputes within stated timescales (currently 28 days) is one of the key performance indicators used in this way. Monthly monitoring returns up to end February 2008 have been received. So far, I can confirm that performance has been good with each scheme delivering in full against the indicator.

Tree Preservation Orders: Appeals

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many tree preservation order appeals are under consideration by her Department; and how many are awaiting a site visit.

Iain Wright: holding answer 7 March 2008
	There are approximately 400 appeals against local authority decisions in respect of proposed work to trees protected by tree preservation orders. 300 are currently awaiting a site visit.

Tree Preservation Orders: Appeals

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects the tree preservation order appeal submitted by Ms Sonya Stringer of Christchurch to be determined; and what the reasons are for the time taken for the determination to be completed.

Iain Wright: holding answer 7 March 2008
	An Inspecting Officer will carry out a site visit on 19 March 2008 and a decision on the appeal will be made within 16 weeks of that date. This case has been delayed because not all of the necessary papers were initially available.

Visits: Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what visits the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber has made to each constituency in Yorkshire and the Humber since appointment; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: Since her appointment on 25 January 2008, my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber (Caroline Flint) has visited the constituencies listed as follows.
	Due to the role of regional Minister, which involves regional or sub-regional meetings, the Minister may not have visited a constituency per se, but attended a meeting held in that area.
	
		
			  The right hon. Member for Doncaster, Central from 27 January to 6 March 2008 
			  Constituency  Number of visits 
			 Doncaster. Central 1 
			 City of York 2 
			 Leeds. Central 4 
			 Morley and Rothwell 1 
			 Wakefield 1 
			 Wentworth 1 
			 Bradford. West 1 
			 Bradford. North 1 
		
	
	
		
			  The right hon. Member for Don Valley from 2 July 2007 to 26 January 2008 
			  Constituency  Number of visits 
			 Barnsley, Central 1 
			 Bradford, West 1 
			 City of York 1 
			 Don Valley 4 
			 Doncaster, Central 2 
			 Doncaster, North 1 
			 Hull, North 2 
			 Hull, West and Hessle 1 
			 Leeds, Central 3 
			 Rydale 1 
			 Scarborough and Whitby 1 
			 Wakefield 2

Water: Conservation

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what support her Department provides for retrofitting grey water collection and distribution systems to blocks of flats when they are refurbished.

Iain Wright: The Department does not provide any specific programmes of support for retrofitting grey water collection and distribution systems to blocks of flats when they are refurbished. In its recently published water strategy for England, "Future Water"
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/Environment/water/strategy/index.htm
	the Government undertook to work with others to develop standards for non-potable use so as to develop confidence in these developing technologies. More generally, enhanced capital allowances are available for businesses which purchase rainwater reuse systems and other technologies on the Water Technology List. In addition, new homes built to reach the higher levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes are likely to install systems for using water from non-potable sources such as rainwater harvesting or grey water recycling.

OLYMPICS

Volunteering

Sally Keeble: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she plans to take to enable students to take part in volunteering programmes for delivery of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: We expect volunteering to be boosted by the profile it will get through the Games, as in Sydney where 50,000 volunteers were a key element of the success. The London Organising Committee estimate that 70,000 volunteers will be involved in the 2012 Games, and their volunteering launch will be in Autumn 2010. It is too early to say what the role of students might be, but 42,000 students volunteer already every year, including in sport.

Media Facilities

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with her Chinese counterpart on the provision of media facilities as part of preparations to host the Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: When I met the leaders of the Beijing Organising Committee last year I impressed on them the importance of the free movement of journalists for the 2008 Games, and I discussed China's progress with British journalists based in China. I am very pleased that new regulations to this effect were introduced in China in January. This is very positive, but more needs to be done and we are encouraging China to extend this freedom beyond 2008 and to China's domestic media too, so that it is a real legacy from the Games. I raised this again with senior Chinese representatives visiting London last month.

Developing Countries

Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for International Development on the participation of developing countries in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: There have been a number of discussions at ministerial and official level with DFID regarding the "International Inspiration" programme.
	The programme—which is already under way in India, Zambia, Brazil, Azerbaijan and Palau (in Micronesia)—and to which DFID has already contributed £2 million to date, will ensure there is a real social and sporting legacy from the Games beyond the UK.
	I am hopeful that we will expand the programme yet further between now and 2012, subject to funding.

Overseas Spectators

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps she is taking to promote the 2012 Olympic Games to overseas spectators.

Tessa Jowell: The handover ceremonies at the end of the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games this summer provide a starting point for promoting the 2012 Games. They will focus the world's attention on Britain. Visit Britain, UKTI, FCO, and the British Council are working together to promote this opportunity for Britain, alongside Visit London and other London agencies. Visit Britain will engage with the estimated 40,000 global media representatives present in Beijing to promote this country. An estimated 321,000 additional visitors will come to London for the Games. A framework for marketing the UK was published in October by DCMS in "Winning—the tourism strategy for 2012".

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of  (a) male and  (b) female binge drinkers according to the definition of binge drinking used in the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy.

Jacqui Smith: I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health on 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 943W.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons under the age of 18 years had alcohol seized by Humberside Police in each of the last five years, broken down by division.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office does not routinely record or hold this information.

Animal Welfare

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the sale of  (a) exotic animals and  (b) endangered species; and if she will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	My officials have regular dialogue on the sale of and trade in endangered species with representatives of the trade, wildlife NGOs, other members of the European Community and members of the public.
	So far this year, I have met representatives of IFAW, the Born Free Foundation and Wildlife and Countryside Link to discuss wildlife trade.

Animal Welfare: Imports

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what legislation the  (a) import and  (b) export of (i) exotic animals and (ii) endangered species is regulated; what changes have been made since enactment; and if she will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/07 regulates trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. Commission Regulation (EC) No. 865/2006 lays down the detailed rules concerning the implementation of the council regulation and has direct effect in EU member states. The commission regulations are regularly updated and amended following changes agreed by parties to the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES). The commission regulations were more recently amended on 4 February by Commission Regulation 100/2008.
	Council Directive 92/65 lays down animal health requirements governing trade within, and imports into, the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules. This can include exotic and endangered species, but they are not separately identified. The directive is implemented in England by the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) (England) Regulations 2006 (as amended). Similar legislation applies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and it is enforced by local authorities.

Animal Welfare: Imports

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) exotic animals and  (b) endangered species were imported into the UK in each year since 1997, broken down by species.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Since 1 January 1997, the UK CITES Management Authority received 106,533 applications for imports of endangered species into the UK. I have arranged for a detailed breakdown of the species imported to be placed in the Library of the House.

Asylum

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the number of failed asylum seekers in the United Kingdom.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 March 2008
	 No Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally and this includes failed asylum seekers. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case.
	Exit controls were phased out from 1994. As part of the Government's 10-point plan for delivery, by Christmas 2008 the majority of foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country. This will build on the successes of our early testing of the e-Borders programme (Project Semaphore) which already covers over 30 million passenger movements and has led to 18,000 alerts and more than 1,500 arrests.
	This is part of a sweeping programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, compulsory watch-list checks for all travellers from high-risk countries before they land in Britain and ID cards for foreign nationals.

Asylum

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of failed asylum seekers in the United Kingdom who are unable to return to their country of origin because they cannot obtain the necessary permission from those countries.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 March 2008
	The information requested could be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records only at disproportionate cost.

British Nationality: Assessments

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the people currently required to retake Knowledge of Life in the UK tests at each test centre have already been granted citizenship; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 March 2008
	 The information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.

British Nationality: Assessments

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make provision for applicants undertaking the Life in the UK test who speak English as their first language but who have a low level of literacy.

Liam Byrne: We are not aware of any particular difficulties being encountered by native English speakers taking the Life in the UK test as a result of low levels of literacy. The pass rate for those who have English as a first language is generally higher than for those who do not.
	There are no plans to make specific literacy support available for applicants taking the Life in the UK test as literacy and numeracy programmes are widely available at adult, further education and community colleges. Test centre staff will give appropriate advice to candidates whose competence in language or literacy is felt to be insufficient for them to take the test.

Coroners: Armed Forces

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to exclude all inquests relating to deaths in the course of military operations from the powers given to her in the Counter-Terrorism Bill which would allow her to certify that a coroner's inquest be held without a jury.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the right hon. Member to my answers today.

Counter-Terrorism Bill

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from other governments on Part 6 of the Counter-Terrorism Bill.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	No representations have been received from any other governments on Part 6 of the Counter-Terrorism Bill.

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to promote Fair Trade Fortnight 2008 among staff within her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: While there are no plans this year specifically to promote Fairtrade Fortnight, the Home Office encourages suppliers to offer fairtrade products. Items such as chocolate, biscuits and orange juice are available in its staff restaurant and coffee shops. The Department also provides fairtrade tea and coffee at official meetings at some of its key buildings. A fairtrade fair was held in December in 2 Marsham street where staff were able to see and purchase a range of fairtrade products.

Humberside Police

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) police strength and  (b) budget was for Humberside Police Force in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The information is set out in the following table. As the force's budget also supports the employment of all other police personnel the table includes police staff and police community support officers.
	
		
			  Humberside police 
			   Police officer strength  Police staff strength  Police community support officers  Force budget (£ million) 
			 1996-97 2,045 718 — 103.1 
			 1997-98 2,021 789 — 106.1 
			 1998-99 1,974 840 — 110.0 
			 1999-2000 1,932 840 — 114.3 
			 2000-01 1,917 808 — 118.9 
			 2001-02 2,058 816 — 128.2 
			 2002-03 2,105 854 — 131.6 
			 2003-04 2,213 959 — 142.0 
			 2004-05 2,230 1,026 20 150.4 
			 2005-06 2,224 1,091 20 (1)152.022 
			 2006-07 2,227 1,186 194 158.1 
			 2007-08(2) 2,226 1,268 227 164.9 
			 (1) 2005-06 figures have been adjusted for purposes of comparison with future years following the transfer of pensions and security funding from general grant in 2006-07. (2) Strength as at 30 September 2007.

Immigrants: Domestic Violence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she has provided to  (a) local authorities and  (b) voluntary agencies on women whose insecure immigration status is being assessed on the no recourse to public funds rule in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004; if she will bring forward proposals to amend the Act to provide funding for such women; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: In February 2006, guidance and a factsheet were issued to all local authority chief executives alerting them to the key issues experienced by these women and setting out how they can be helped through other legislative processes.
	We have also commissioned the development of a step-by-step guide for women in black and minority ethnic communities who are victims of domestic violence. It will provide practical advice on how victims, and agencies supporting victims, can protect themselves and their children. This will be published in spring 2008.
	Soon we will be announcing a new scheme where victims of domestic violence who have no recourse to public funds may be able to have their housing and living costs met linked to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) criteria. The proposals under the new scheme will strengthen the way in which domestic violence cases are considered, enabling those victims who are vulnerable to access further support.

Immigration

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will instruct the Border and Immigration Agency to issue a decision on the application for indefinite leave to remain made by Mr. Wael Hussein (Home Office reference: H1086470).

Liam Byrne: I wrote to the hon. Member on 4 March 2008.

Immigration: Detention Centres

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to build new immigration detention centres; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Yes. As I said in January we will publish proposals during the course of 2008.

Internet: Regulation

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to improve the regulation of the internet.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not directly regulate the internet as the internet is subject to UK law and we take the view that what is illegal offline is illegal online.
	The Home Office set up the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre (CEOP) in 2006 to help protect children online and also works closely with the internet industry through the Home Secretary's task force on online child protection to ensure a safe internet for children.
	In September 2007, the Prime Minister announced a review into the risk to children of exposure to harmful or inappropriate content in video games and online. The review will also assess the effectiveness and adequacy of existing measures to help prevent children from being exposed to such material and help parents understand and manage the risks of access to inappropriate content.
	Dr. Tanya Byron is conducting this review and will report to Ministers in March 2008. The Home Office looks forward to hearing the recommendations.

Members: Correspondence

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to answer Question 177566, tabled on 7 January 2008 by the hon. Member for Southend, West; what the reasons are for the time taken in replying; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 19 February 2008
	 I replied to the hon. Member on 20 February 2008,  Official Report, column 795W. The Department makes every effort to answer Members questions within the timescales set. However, this is not always possible.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter of 4 February from the hon. Member for Walsall North on a constituent (ref H1127502/M16935/7).

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 March 2008
	 I wrote to my hon. Friend on 3 March.

Police: Interpreters

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average retention rates were of interpreters working for police services in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the proportion of their working weeks which are spent by police-employed interpreters interpreting between police officers and members of the public.

Tony McNulty: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Police: Nottinghamshire

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in Nottinghamshire constabulary in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the most recent period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The available data for Nottinghamshire constabulary are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Police officer strength( 1)  (FTE)( 2)  in Nottinghamshire police force area as at 31 March 1997 and 30 September 2007 
			  Police force  31 March 1997  30 September 2007( 3) 
			 Nottinghamshire police 2,323 2,400 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Full-time equivalent 'excludes' those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Comparable strength (excludes those on career breaks, or maternity/paternity leave). The Police Numbers Task Force (2001) recommended that a clear presentation was made of the number of staff employed by police forces including those seconded into the force and those on any type of long or short-term absence. These new calculations were first used in 2003, and are not comparable with data prior to March 2003. The data from 2003 onwards, used here, are termed comparable because they have been calculated on the old basis to allow comparison.

Police: Political Campaigns

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to police officers on participating in party political  (a) campaigns and  (b) literature in uniform.

Tony McNulty: Regulation 6 of the Police Regulations 2003 as amended by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2004 states that:
	"a member of a police force shall at all times abstain from any activity which is likely to interfere with the impartial discharge of his duties or which is likely to give rise to the impression among members of the public that it may so interfere. A member of a police force shall in particular not take any active part in politics".
	No guidance has been issued to police forces on the interpretation of these provisions.

Police: Recruitment

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost of recruiting and training a new police officer in England and Wales was in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not held centrally.

Sexual Offences: Young People

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex offences against a minor were committed by individuals with a previous conviction for a sexual offence in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007; and in how many of those cases the offender was a family member, a friend or otherwise well-known to the victim.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 21 February 2008
	The Ministry of Justice collates and publishes data on the re-offending rate of offenders discharged from custody or commencing a community sentence. These data show re-offending rates by the offence for which the offender has previously been sentenced (the index offence). The re-offending rate covers convictions for all subsequent offences, not just sexual offences, so the re-offending data requested are not available.
	Information about victims of sex offenders, such as their relationship to the perpetrator, is not collected centrally.

Surveillance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans her Department has to issue revised guidance to local authorities on their use of surveillance and the interception of communications;
	(2)  which local authorities recruited covert human intelligence sources in 2006-07;
	(3)  which local authorities were  (a) authorised to acquire and  (b) acquired communications data in 2006.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office is revising the Codes of Practice for Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources in 2008. This will give practical guidance to public authorities as to their responsibilities under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). Local authorities are not permitted to intercept communications under RIPA.
	We do hold a central database of all covert human intelligence sources recruited by Public authorities as all local authorities have the ability under RIPA to recruit covert human intelligence sources; these activities are overseen by the Office of Surveillance Commissioner.
	Public authorities able to obtain communications data using the provisions of section 22 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 are set out in section 25(1) of that Act and in orders made under section 25(1)(g). Those orders are the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 (Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 3172), the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Amendment) Order 2005 (Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1083) and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) (Additional Functions and Amendment) Order 2006 (Statutory Instrument 2006 No. 1878).

Terrorism: Stop and Search

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times Ministers have given stop and search authorisation under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Jacqui Smith: The Terrorism Act 2000 came into effect on 19 February 2001.
	Information on stop and searches and resultant arrests under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 from 2001-02 to 2005-06 (latest available) is given in the following table. These are the most recent figures.
	
		
			  Searches of vehicles( 1)  and occupants, and pedestrians under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000( 2)  and resultant arrests( 3) , England and Wales, 2001-02—2005-06 
			   Stop and searches in order to prevent acts of terrorism 
			   Total searches  Resultant arrests( 3)  Percentage of arrests 
			 2001-02 10,200 189 2 
			 2002-03 32,100 380 1 
			 2003-04 33,800 491 1 
			 2004-05(4) 37,000 468 1 
			 2005-06 50,000 563 1 
			 (1) Searches may be conducted on vehicles only, occupants only or both may be searched. Where a vehicle and driver occupier are searched simultaneously the search is recorded against the driver (occupant). Any other passengers searched are recorded as occupants. (2) The Terrorism Act 2000 came into force on 19 February 2001. (3) Includes arrests under the Terrorism Act, arrests for terrorist related matters and other serious crimes. (4) Figures updated since publication of the 2004-05 Bulletin.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police officers. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Vandalism: Buses

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many arrests were made under Operation Bus Tag in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many people were charged as a result of evidence gathered under Operation Bus Tag in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The following information has been supplied by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis.
	The number of those arrested under Operation Bus Tag, to late January, are:
	
		
			   Number 
			 29 November 2004 to 31 March 2005 108 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 485 
			 1 April 2006 to 31 march 2007 976 
			 1 April 2007 to present 819 
		
	
	Total arrests since introduction equals 2,419.
	Many of those arrested by Operation Bus Tag are first time offending juveniles, therefore in many instances the means of disposal could be by juvenile reprimand or caution and not charge. The available figures indicated that between 2004 and 2006 there were 344 charges, and between 2006 and late January there have been 917 charges, though this figure indicates the number of charges not necessarily the number of persons charged.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged  (a) under 18,  (b) 18 to 25 and  (c) 25 to 29 were (i) admitted as an in-patient or (ii) treated as an out-patient with alcohol poisoning in hospitals in Lancashire in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested. Data on the reasons for out-patient attendances are not collected centrally. The following table shows the total finished admissions to providers in Lancashire in which the patient had a primary or secondary diagnosis of alcohol poisoning at the start of his/her stay—for under 18, 18 to 24 and 25 to 29 in the years 2004-05 to 2006-07.
	
		
			  National health service hospitals England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by the English NHS 
			   Lancashire providers 
			   Under 18  18 to 24  25 to 29 
			 2006-07 86 220 146 
			 2005-06 118 206 98 
			 2004-05 108 178 106 
			  Notes:  Lancashire Providers Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) has supplied provider data using: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS FT East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust Calderstones NHS Trust Lancashire Care NHS Trust  Finished admission episodes (FAE) A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Data Quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  All Diagnoses count of Mentions These figures represent a count of all mentions of a diagnosis in any of the 14 diagnosis fields in the HES data set. Therefore, if a diagnosis is mentioned in more than one diagnosis field during an episode, all diagnoses are counted.  ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes Used: T51: Toxic effect of Alcohol  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: HES, The Information Centre for health and social care.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged  (a) under 14,  (b) 14 to 16 and  (c) 16 to 18 years were treated as out-patients in accident and emergency wards in Lancashire as a result of binge drinking in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not held centrally.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged  (a) under 14,  (b) 14 to 16 and  (c) 16 to 18 years were admitted to hospitals in Lancashire as a result of binge drinking in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: This information is not collected centrally.

Antibiotics: Health Education

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department is spending on  (a) fees for the design of marketing materials,  (b) other fees to consultants,  (c) printing costs,  (d) distribution costs,  (e) staff costs and  (f) any other costs for the campaign on the unnecessary use of antibiotics to be launched in February 2008.

Ann Keen: Final costs are not yet available, however the following costs were estimated on 14 January 2008 and are subject to change:
	
		
			   Estimated costs (£) 
			 Fees for the design of the marketing material 75,000 
			 Consultant costs 0 
			 Printing 50,000 
			 Distribution 23,000 
			 Other specific staff costs 0 
			 Net media costs of campaign including the cost of research and costs of staff at the central office of information 440,000

Basildon and Thurrock Hospital: Medical Treatments

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of stroke victims from within Thurrock admitted to Basildon and Thurrock Hospital received a brain scan within 24 hours of admission to hospital in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chief executive of Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who might be able to provide this information.
	The new "National Stroke Strategy", announced in December 2007, will modernise services and deliver the newest treatments for stroke across England. The strategy emphasises the need to improve access to scans and stipulates that brain imaging should be performed in the next scan slot, or within 60 minutes of request out of hours. We are asking all local stroke networks to ensure that any patient who could benefit from urgent care is transferred to an acute stroke centre that provides 24-hour access to scans and other specialist stroke care.
	We have fully costed the proposals in the strategy, and this will be reflected in the allocation that goes to primary care trusts for next year. In addition, we have committed new central funds totalling £105 million over the next three years. Some of that new funding will be used to develop demonstration sites for acute services that will enable us not only to show a step change in service provision in those areas, but also to provide lessons that can be shared. The £105 million is central funding—on top of money going into the national health service to support this change.

Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 990W, on cancer, what the host NHS organisation is for each cancer network.

Ann Keen: The following table lists each cancer network and its host national health service organisation:
	
		
			  Cancer network  Host NHS organisation 
			 Derby Burton Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			 Leicestershire Northamptonshire and Rutland Leicestershire and Rutland Primary Care Trust (PCT) 
			 Mid Trent Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust 
			 South East London Lambeth PCT 
			 North East London London Strategic Health Authority (SHA) 
			 South West London Merton PCT 
			 North London Barnet PCT 
			 West London London SHA 
			 North of England Northumberland Care Trust 
			 Greater Manchester and Cheshire Christie Hospital NHS Trust 
			 Lancashire and Cumbria Blackpool PCT 
			 Merseyside and Cheshire Wirral PCT 
			 Thames Valley South Central SHA 
			 Central South Coast South Central SHA 
			 Kent West Kent PCT 
			 Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire Surrey PCT 
			 Sussex Brighton and Hove City Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Avon Somerset and Wiltshire Bristol PCT 
			 Three Counties Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
			 Dorset Bournemouth and Poole PCT 
			 Peninsula Torbay Care Trust 
			 Arden Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 
			 Greater Midlands Wolverhampton City PCT 
			 Pan Birmingham West Midlands SHA 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Coast Calderdale PCT 
			 North Trent Barnsley PCT 
			 Yorkshire Lanbaurgh PCT 
			 Essex Mid Essex PCT 
			 Anglia East of England SHA 
			 Mount Vernon West Hertfordshire PCT

Cancer: Waiting Lists

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was between referral and treatment for NHS cancer patients in  (a) Torbay constituency,  (b) Devon and  (c) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Statistics on average waiting times between urgent referral and treatment for cancer are not collected centrally. The cancer waiting time standard of a maximum wait of 62 days from urgent referral for suspected cancer to first cancer treatment was introduced for all patients from December 2005. Statistics showing overall performance are published on a quarterly basis on the Department's website at:
	www.performance.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits/index.htm
	Performance against this standard for the last period for which figures are available (October, November and December 2007) show the following performance levels for health care organisations in Devon.
	
		
			  Organisation  Performance ( Percentage ) 
			 Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 94.3 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust 96.1 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust 96.7 
			 South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 98.8 
		
	
	For the same period the England performance was 97.1 per cent.

Care Homes: Elderly

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the extent of  (a) changes to the provision of local authority social care for the elderly and  (b) changes in eligibility criteria for such care in the last 24 months;
	(2)  what the full terms of reference are of the Commission for Social Care Inspection's review of the eligibility tests for social care for the elderly.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has made no estimate of the extent of changes to the provision of local authority social care for older people or the changes in eligibility criteria for such care in the last 24 months. This is why we have asked the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to carry out a review of eligibility criteria and report back to the Government later this year. Until the review is completed, we will be unable to estimate the extent of changes to the provision of local authority social care.
	The terms of reference for the CSCI review of eligibility tests for social care for older people are:
	In the context of the government's vision for adult social care, "Putting People First", to undertake a review of the criteria for fair access to care services, their application by councils with social services responsibilities and their impact on people;
	To make recommendations to me on the findings from the review; and
	To engage the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, Local Government Association and other relevant stakeholders in the process of the review.

Departmental Equality

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of the duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Ivan Lewis: The Department of Health published a Single Equality Scheme on 4 December 2006. This scheme set out how the Department intended to meet its general equality duties under the Race Relations Act 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. In addition, it outlined the action it would take towards equality in relation to age, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
	In June 2007, the Department published a revised Single Equality Scheme. The Department is currently working towards a further revised scheme. This scheme will include a report on progress so far against the existing scheme, and a plan for further action.

Genetics: Insurance

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the concordat and moratorium of genetics and insurance.

Dawn Primarolo: The concordat and moratorium on genetics and insurance was announced in a written ministerial statement given by the former Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (John Reid), on 14 March 2005,  Official Report, column 5WS. It is a high level agreement between the Government and the Association of British Insurers on the use of predictive genetic test results for insurance purposes.
	The moratorium on insurers' use of predictive genetic test dating from 1 November 2001 was extended by five years until 1 November 2011.

Health Services

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of  (a) GPs,  (b) dentists,  (c) optometrists and  (d) pharmacists in (i) England and (ii) each English region who were (A) men and (B) women (1) under 40, (2) between 40 and 55 and (3) over 55 years old in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: Information on general practitioners (GPs) is shown in the following Table 1 and Table la.
	The number and percentage of national health service dentists in England, by gender and by age band, as at 31 March 2007 is shown in Table 2. This information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA). This information is based on the new contractual arrangements introduced on 1 April 2006 and is a count of the number of dentists on open NHS contracts as at 31 March 2007.
	The number of NHS dentists in England as at 31 March 2006, by age band and by gender is provided in table five of the "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006". A breakdown by SHA is not available for this period. This report, published on 23 August 2006 is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Table six of the "NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report 2006" provides information on the number of NHS dentists in England and includes the number as at 31 March 2005. This information is provided by gender. A further breakdown by age band, and by SHA is not available.
	Information on the number and percentage of ophthalmic practitioners in England is provided in table three of the "General Ophthalmic Services: Workforce Statistics for England and Wales, 31 December 2006" report. The information is provided as at 31 December, 1996 to 2006. The information is provided by gender. This report was published on 31 July 2007 and is available in the Library and is also available at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/eye-care/general-ophthalmic-services:-workforce-statistics-for-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-december-2006
	Information on the number of ophthalmic practitioners in England as at 31 December 2006 is also provided in Annex three, table three, of the "General Ophthalmic Services: Workforce" report. This information is provided by gender and by primary care trust (PCT). Information by SHA is not currently available at this time due to the need to exclude duplicates who may appear in the totals for more than one PCT, at an SHA level.
	Age band level data for ophthalmic practitioners is not currently available.
	Information on pharmacy staff is shown in Table 3.
	
		
			  Table 1: GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) as at 2004-06: numbers by age, region and gender 
			Under 40 years  40-55 years  Over 55 years  Total 
			2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006 
			   Male 
			  England 3,727 3,658 3,647 11,161 11,170 11,056 4,400 4,769 4,838 19,288 19,597 19,541 
			 Q30 North East 216 203 212 608 613 633 212 230 224 1,036 1,046 1,069 
			 Q31 North West 578 525 528 1,464 1,474 1,457 619 665 670 2,661 2,664 2,655 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber 370 374 372 1,195 1,207 1,175 441 468 487 2,006 2,049 2,034 
			 Q33 East Midlands 338 344 335 984 978 985 278 310 316 1,600 1,632 1,636 
			 Q34 West Midlands 384 398 411 1,132 1,142 1,125 568 601 600 2,084 2,141 2,136 
			 Q35 East of England 383 378 377 1,315 1,311 1,302 450 497 520 2,148 2,186 2,199 
			 Q36 London 465 476 442 1,249 1,241 1,200 870 913 942 2,584 2,630 2,584 
			 Q37 South East Coast 280 263 271 938 942 931 333 365 387 1,551 1,570 1,589 
			 Q38 South Central 278 270 267 864 836 826 267 308 319 1,409 1,414 1,412 
			 Q39 South West 435 427 432 1,412 1,426 1,422 362 412 373 2,209 2,265 2,227 
			   
			   Female 
			  England 4,649 4,916 4,978 6,445 6,937 7,215 1,141 1,283 1,356 12,235 13,136 13,549 
			 Q30 North East 288 295 324 321 349 377 33 35 45 642 679 746 
			 Q31 North West 590 617 659 820 859 903 143 171 175 1,553 1,647 1,737 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber 482 519 506 653 695 741 93 108 105 1,228 1,322 1,352 
			 Q33 East Midlands 383 383 363 459 500 506 51 58 65 893 941 934 
			 Q34 West Midlands 418 437 432 586 642 665 128 137 157 1,132 1,216 1,254 
			 Q35 East of England 421 455 449 701 752 788 115 117 132 1,237 1,324 1,369 
			 Q36 London 782 837 830 976 1,043 1,060 353 385 393 2,111 2,265 2,283 
			 Q37 South East Coast 379 403 400 520 572 598 81 96 97 980 1,071 1,095 
			 Q38 South Central 359 394 431 616 648 674 73 86 94 1,048 1,128 1,199 
			 Q39 South West 547 576 584 793 877 903 71 90 93 1,411 1,543 1,580 
			   
			   All GPs 
			  England 8,376 8,574 8,625 17,606 18,107 18,271 5,541 6,052 6,194 31,523 32,733 33,090 
			 Q30 North East 504 498 536 929 962 1,010 245 265 269 1,678 1,725 1,815 
			 Q31 North West 1,168 1,142 1,187 2,284 2,333 2,360 762 836 845 4,214 4,311 4,392 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber 852 893 878 1,848 1,902 1,916 534 576 592 3,234 3,371 3,386 
			 Q33 East Midlands 721 727 698 1,443 1,478 1,491 329 368 381 2,493 2,573 2,570 
			 Q34 West Midlands 802 835 843 1,718 1,784 1,790 696 738 757 3,216 3,357 3,390 
			 Q35 East of England 804 833 826 2,016 2,063 2,090 565 614 652 3,385 3,510 3,568 
			 Q36 London 1,247 1,313 1,272 2,225 2,284 2,260 1,223 1,298 1,335 4,695 4,895 4,867 
			 Q37 South East Coast 659 666 671 1,458 1,514 1,529 414 461 484 2,531 2,641 2,684 
			 Q38 South Central 637 664 698 1,480 1,484 1,500 340 394 413 2,457 2,542 2,611 
			 Q39 South West 982 1,003 1,016 2,205 2,303 2,325 433 502 466 3,620 3,808 3,807 
			  Notes:  1. General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes GP Providers and GP Others.  2. Five GP ages were returned unknown in 2005 and one in 2006, these have been excluded from the data.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 1a: GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) as at 2004-06: percentages by age, region and gender 
			Under 40 years  40-55 years  Over 55 years  Total 
			2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006  2004  2005  2006 
			   Male GPs 
			  England 19.3 18.7 18.7 57.9 57.0 56.6 22.8 24.3 24.8 — — — 
			 Q30 North East 20.8 19.4 19.8 58.7 58.6 59.2 20.5 22.0 21.0 — — — 
			 Q31 Northwest 21.7 19.7 19.9 55.0 55.3 54.9 23.3 25.0 25.2 — — — 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber 18.4 18.3 18.3 59.6 58.9 57.8 22.0 22.8 23.9 — — — 
			 Q33 East Midlands 21.1 21.1 20.5 61.5 59.9 60.2 17.4 19.0 19.3 — — — 
			 Q34 West Midlands 18.4 18.6 19.2 54.3 53.3 52.7 27.3 28.1 28.1 — — — 
			 Q35 East of England 17.8 17.3 17.1 61.2 60.0 59.2 20.9 22.7 23.6 — — — 
			 Q36 London 18.0 18.1 17.1 48.3 47.2 46.4 33.7 34.7 36.5 — — — 
			 Q37 South East Coast 18.1 16.8 17.1 60.5 60.0 58.6 21.5 23.2 24.4 — — — 
			 Q38 South Central 19.7 19.1 18.9 61.3 59.1 58.5 18.9 21.8 22.6 — — — 
			 Q39 South West 19.7 18.9 19.4 63.9 63.0 63.9 16.4 18.2 16.7 — — — 
			   
			   Female GPs 
			  England 38.0 37.4 36.7 52.7 52.8 53.3 9.3 9.8 10.0 — — — 
			 Q30 North East 44.9 43.4 43.4 50.0 51.4 50.5 5.1 5.2 6.0 — — — 
			 Q31 North West 38.0 37.5 37.9 52.8 52.2 52.0 9.2 10.4 10.1 — — — 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber 39.3 39.3 37.4 53.2 52.6 54.8 7.6 8.2 7.8 — — — 
			 Q33 East Midlands 42.9 40.7 38.9 51.4 53.1 54.2 5.7 6.2 7.0 — — — 
			 Q34 West Midlands 36.9 35.9 34.4 51.8 52.8 53.0 11.3 11.3 12.5 — — — 
			 Q35 East of England 34.0 34.4 32.8 56.7 56.8 57.6 9.3 8.8 9.6 — — — 
			 Q36 London 37.0 37.0 36.4 46.2 46.0 46.4 16.7 17.0 17.2 — — — 
			 Q37 South East Coast 38.7 37.6 36.5 53.1 53.4 54.6 8.3 9.0 8.9 — — — 
			 Q38 South Central 34.3 35.0 35.9 58.8 57.4 56.2 7.0 7.6 7.8 — — — 
			 Q39 South West 38.8 37.4 37.0 56.2 56.8 57.2 5.0 5.8 5.9 — — — 
			   
			   All GPs 
			  England 26.6 26.2 26.1 55.9 55.3 55.2 17.6 18.5 18.7 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q30 North East 30.0 28.9 29.5 55.4 55.8 55.6 14.6 15.4 14.8 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q31 North West 27.7 26.5 27.0 54.2 54.1 53.7 18.1 19.4 19.2 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and the Humber 26.3 26.5 25.9 57.1 56.4 56.6 16.5 17.1 17.5 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q33 East Midlands 28.9 28.3 27.2 57.9 57.4 58.0 13.2 14.3 14.8 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q34 West Midlands 24.9 24.9 24.9 53.4 53.1 52.8 21.6 22.0 22.3 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q35 East of England 23.8 23.7 23.2 59.6 58.8 58.6 16.7 17.5 18.3 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q36 London 26.6 26.8 26.1 47.4 46.7 46.4 26.0 26.5 27.4 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q37 South East Coast 26.0 25.2 25.0 57.6 57.3 57.0 16.4 17.5 18.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q38 Central 25.9 26.1 26.7 60.2 58.4 57.4 13.8 15.5 15.8 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			 Q39 South West 27.1 26.3 26.7 60.9 60.5 61.1 12.0 13.2 12.2 100.0 100.0 100.0 
			  Notes:  1. General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes GP Providers and GP Others. 2. Five GP ages were returned unknown in 2005 and one in 2006, these have been excluded from percentage calculations.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number and percentage of dentists on an open NHS cont ract by specific age bands in SH A areas in England as at 31 March 2007 
			Under 40 years  40 to 54 years  55 years and over  Total 
			No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			   Male NHS d entists 
			  England 5,016 39.2 5,457 42.6 2,337 18.2 12,810 100 
			 Q30 North East SHA 289 46.2 247 39.5 89 14.2 625 100 
			 Q31 North West SHA 719 39.1 846 46.0 273 14.9 1,838 100 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and The Humber SHA 516 41.5 533 42.8 195 15.7 1,244 100 
			 Q33 East Midlands SHA 445 41.7 430 40.3 193 18.1 1,068 100 
			 Q34 West Midlands SHA 545 42.8 503 39.5 226 17.7 1,274 100 
			 Q35 East of England SHA 582 37.1 700 44.6 288 18.3 1,570 100 
			 Q36 London SHA 1,023 45.0 855 37.6 394 17.3 2,272 100 
			 Q37 South East Coast SHA 446 34.9 573 44.8 259 20.3 1,278 100 
			 Q38 South Central SHA 405 39.4 442 43.0 181 17.6 1,028 100 
			 Q39 South West SHA 501 35.8 594 42.5 304 21.7 1,399 100 
			   
			   Female NHS  d entists 
			  England 5,004 60.8 2,705 32.9 522 6.3 8,231 100 
			 Q30 North East SHA 271 67.6 121 30.2 9 2.2 401 100 
			 Q31 North West SHA 662 58.4 408 36.0 64 5.6 1,134 100 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and The Humber SHA 440 58.9 262 35.1 45 6.0 747 100 
			 Q33 East Midlands SHA 384 62.1 196 31.7 38 6.1 618 100 
			 Q34 West Midlands SHA 501 62.2 261 32.4 43 5.3 805 100 
			 Q35 East of England SHA 599 64.3 280 30.0 53 5.7 932 100 
			 Q36 London SHA 1,091 69.5 389 24.8 89 5.7 1,569 100 
			 Q37 South East Coast SHA 476 55.3 316 36.7 69 8.0 861 100 
			 Q38 South Central SHA 461 60.2 247 32.2 58 7.6 766 100 
			 Q39 South West SHA 509 57.6 311 35.2 64 7.2 884 100 
			   
			   All NHS  d entists 
			  England 10,020 47.6 8,162 38.8 2,859 13.6 21,041 100 
			 Q30 North East SHA 560 54.6 368 35.9 98 9.6 1,026 100 
			 Q31 North West SHA 1,381 46.5 1,254 42.2 337 11.3 2,972 100 
			 Q32 Yorkshire and The Humber SHA 956 48.0 795 39.9 240 12.1 1,991 100 
			 Q33 East Midlands SHA 829 49.2 626 37.1 231 13.7 1,686 100 
			 Q34 West Midlands SHA 1,046 50.3 764 36.7 269 12.9 2,079 100 
			 Q35 East of England SHA 1,181 47.2 980 39.2 341 13.6 2,502 100 
			 Q36 London SHA 2,114 55.0 1,244 32.4 483 12.6 3,841 100 
			 Q37 South East Coast SHA 922 43.1 889 41.6 328 15.3 2,139 100 
			 Q38 South Central SHA 866 48.3 689 38.4 239 13.3 1,794 100 
			 Q39 South West SHA 1,010 44.2 905 39.6 368 16.1 2,283 100 
			  Notes:  1. A dentist is defined as someone who has been set up on the Dental Services Division Payments online system by the PCT to work under an open contract during the relevant time period. Data provided are a count of the individuals listed as performers on open contracts within a PCT, including orthodontists.  2. Dentists will be counted more than once if they have contracts in more than one SHA. England totals exclude duplication.  3. Data consists of dentists in general dental services, Personal Dental Services and trust-led dental services (TDS).  4. Data as per report run by the NHS Business Services Authority DSD on 3 August 2007.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	—continued
	
		
			  Table 3: NHS hospital  and community health services: p harmacy staff in England by level as at 30 September each specified year 
			   1997  2005  2006  Change 1997- 20 06  Percentage change 1997- 20 06  Change 2005-06  Percentage change 2005-06 
			  Headcount
			 England 9,771 16,902 16,858 7,087 73 -44 -0.3 
			  Qualified pharmacy staff 8,491 13,595 13,536 5,045 59 -59 -0.4 
			 Consultant therapist/scientist n/a 9 12 12 n/a 3 33.3 
			 Manager 201 493 572 371 185 79 16.0 
			 Scientist 3,516 5,925 5,859 2,343 67 -66 -1.1 
			 Scientific Officer 452 767 717 265 59 -50 -6.5 
			 Technician 4,322 6,401 6,376 2,054 48 -25 -0.4 
			 
			  Unqualified pharmacy staff 1,280 3,307 3,322 2,042 160 15 0.5 
			 Assistant practitioner n/a 6 9 9 n/a 3 50.0 
			 Student/trainee 198 582 535 337 170 -47 -8.1 
			 Helper/assistant 1,082 2,719 2,778 1,696 157 59 2.2 
			 
			  Full-time equivalent
			 England 8,701 14,818 14,825 6,124 70 7 0.0 
			 
			  Qualified pharmacy staff 7,591 11,900 11,902 4,311 57 2 0.0 
			 Consultant therapist/scientist n/a 6 8 8 n/a 2 45.1 
			 Manager 190 441 513 324 170 72 16.5 
			 Scientist 3,177 5,119 5,090 1,913 60 -29 -0.6 
			 Scientific Officer 434 733 681 247 57 -52 -7.1 
			 Technician 3,790 5,602 5,610 1,820 48 8 0.1 
			 
			  Unqualified pharmacy staff 1,111 2,918 2,922 1,811 163 4 0.2 
			 Assistant practitioner n/a 5 8 8 n/a 3 50.2 
			 Student/trainee 194 568 524 330 171 -44 -7.8 
			 Helper/assistant 917 2,344 2,390 1,473 161 46 2.0 
			  Notes :  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.  2. More accurate validation processes in 2006 have resulted in the identification and removal of 9,858 duplicate non-medical staff records out of the total workforce figure of 1.3 million in 2006. Earlier years' figures could not be accurately validated in this way and so will be slightly inflated. The level of inflation in earlier years' figures is estimated to be less than 1 per cent. of total across all non-medical staff groups for headcount figures (and negligible for full-time equivalents). This should be taken into consideration when analysing trends over time.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Health Services: Overseas Visitors

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1020W, what the value of outstanding claims against other member states from 2006-07 is, broken down by member state.

Dawn Primarolo: In line with European Commission Regulations, the national health service treats a large number of European Economic Area (EEA) patients every year, either as temporary visitors requiring treatment while visiting the United Kingdom or as clinical referrals from their home member state. This, coupled with the lag between the provision of treatment, the collation of the claim data and the often lengthy process of reviewing and then accepting or rejecting a claim by another member state, means it is normal practice for EEA countries (including the UK) to have outstanding claims. The UK regularly liaises with the authorities of other member states to resolve matters around outstanding claims.
	The available information on outstanding claims against other member states to date for the claim years 2006 and 2007 is set out as follows. This is a snapshot of the current amount owed to the UK, based on claims submitted to date.
	
		
			  Claim year( 1)  Outstanding claim amounts( 2) 
			  2006  
			 Austria 169,029.56 
			 Belgium 296,877.36 
			 France 211,754.56 
			 Germany 953,821.69 
			 Greece 45,443.44 
			 Italy 131,286.00 
			 Portugal 6,253.92 
			 Spain 2,493,986.28 
			 Sweden 195,782.44 
			 Switzerland 50,726.24 
			 Total 4,554,961.49 
			   
			  2007  
			 Austria 14,673.00 
			 Cyprus 382.00 
			 Greece 77,588.24 
			 Italy 147,251.00 
			 Netherlands 6,691.00 
			 Portugal 12,887.00 
			 Spain 65,005.00 
			 Total 324,477.24 
			 (1) Under EU Regulations actual claims submitted are made on basis of calendar year. (2) Based on claims submitted to date.

Hearing Impaired: Standards

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for patients with hearing and balance disorders to receive treatment in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not currently collect these data.
	From April 2008, the Department will collect information on waits for direct access audiology treatment for patients who are referred directly to audiologists or clinical scientists in audiological medicine. Patients referred for surgical or medical consultant-led care are already covered by the target of treatment within 18 weeks of referral by December 2008.

Hospitals: Food

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to require  (a) NHS hospitals,  (b) private sector hospitals,  (c) nursing homes,  (d) residential homes and  (e) other institutions to act upon the Food Standards Agency's guidance in respect of food provision for (i) older people and (ii) adults in institutions; and what the existing requirements are.

Ivan Lewis: Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be responsible for regulating health and adult social care services.
	It is our intention that providers of regulated services will need to meet a set of requirements, in order to gain and keep registration, including that of ensuring adequate nutrition for patients and service users. The CQC will develop and consult on the criteria it will use to assess compliance with the requirements.
	We would expect the CQC to take account of relevant guidance, including that issued by the Food Standards Agency, in developing its criteria around nutrition. The CQC will make use of its sanctions and enforcement powers where it considers any services are unacceptably poor.

Liver Diseases: Lancashire

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged  (a) under 18,  (b) 18 to 25 and  (c) 25 to 29 were diagnosed with liver disease in hospitals in Lancashire in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the total finished admissions to providers in Lancashire in which the patient had a primary or secondary diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease at the start of his/her stay—for under 18, 18 to 24 and 25 to 29 in the years 2004-05 to 2006-07.
	
		
			  National health service hospitals England and activity performed in the independent sector in England commissioned by the English NHS 
			   Lancashire providers 
			   Under 18  18 to 24  25 to 29 
			 2006-07 0 12 28 
			 2005-06 * * 27 
			 2004-05 0 0 30 
			  Notes:  Lancashire Providers Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) has supplied provider data using: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS FT East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust Calderstones NHS Trust Lancashire Care NHS Trust  Finished admission episodes (FAE) A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  All diagnoses count of mentions These figures represent a count of all mentions of a diagnosis in any of the 14 diagnosis fields in the HES data set. Therefore, if a diagnosis is mentioned in more than one diagnosis field during an episode, all diagnoses are counted.  ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes Used: K70: Alcohol liver disease  Low numbers Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with "*" (an asterisk).  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: HES, The Information Centre for health and social care.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of cases of  (a) MRSA and  (b) C. difficile infection in (i) England and (ii) each English region resulted in death in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: The requested information on the percentage of methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile ( C. difficile) cases which led to death is not available as the surveillance system does not record outcomes.
	The total number of reports of  C. difficile infection and MRSA bacteraemia for England are collected via the mandatory surveillance system operated for the Department by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). This information is available in the Library and also on the HPA website at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/Mandatory_ Results.htm
	The Office for National Statistics publishes analyses of deaths in England and Wales where MRSA or  C. difficile is mentioned on the death certificate but these data do not indicate if the infection was acquired in hospital or elsewhere. The most recent data is published in "Health Statistics Quarterly 37" spring 2008:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/HSQ37.pdf

Midwives: Peterborough Primary Care Trust

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many births per full-time equivalent NHS midwife there were in the Peterborough primary care trust area and predecessor trust area in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The number of deliveries by primary care trust (PCT) can be provided but it is not possible to provide the number of full-time equivalent midwives by PCT.
	
		
			  Number of deliveries per full-time equivalent midwife in the NHS Hospital trusts in the Peterborough area in each year since 2001 
			  NHS trust  Number of deliveries( 1) 
			  Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  
			 2006-07 3,743 
			 2005-06 3,485 
			 2004-05 3,551 
			 2003-04 3,440 
			 2002-03 3,324 
			 2001-02 3,275 
			   
			  Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust( 2)  
			 2006-07 5,693 
			 2005-06 5,795 
			 2004-05 5,002 
			 2003-04 5,003 
			 2002-03 4,652 
			 2001-02 4,586 
			 (1) The number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) with an episode type of 2 (Delivery episode) or 5 (other delivery event). An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year. The number of deliveries is not the same as the number of births, as some deliveries result in multiple births. (2) Addenbrooke's NHS Trust prior to 2004.  Sources: 1. Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) 2. The Information Centre for health and social care 3. The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census

National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions: Shipley

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in implementing the targets for the National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions in Shipley constituency.

Ann Keen: It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs), Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT, within the national health service to develop locally the levels of service described in the National Service Framework for Long-term (Neurological) Conditions (the NSF). The NSF has a 10-year implementation programme from its publication in March 2005, with flexibility for organisations to set the pace of change locally to take account of differences in local priorities and needs.
	Information on the progress that has been achieved locally with regard to the implementation of the targets set out in the NSF can be obtained direct from Bradford and Airedale PCT.

NHS: Public Order Offences

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged  (a) under 18,  (b) 18 to 25,  (c) 25 to 29 and  (d) over 29 years were refused treatment for being drunk and disorderly in Lancashire hospitals in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

NHS: Public Participation

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide funding for local involvement networks to establish regional and national networks to monitor cancer networks, mental health services, ambulance services and other health services commissioned regionally and nationally.

Ann Keen: While local involvement networks (LINks) will be independent and will have the power to develop their own priorities and agendas, they will need to develop relationships with a number of stakeholders to fulfil their statutory role effectively.
	In certain circumstances, LINks may want to work in partnership to monitor services provided by, for example, cancer networks, mental health services or ambulance trusts, across more than one local authority boundary. LINks may also wish to work together in regional groups, or even nationally to share experience and findings. There is nothing to prevent LINks using some of their funding to establish local, regional or national networks if they so wish.

Organs: Donors

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to encourage people to become organ donors over the last five years.

Ann Keen: "Saving Lives, Valuing Donors: A Transplant Framework for England" published in 2003 and the "National Service Framework for Renal Services" published in 2004 set out the Department's key aims for organ and tissue transplantation over the following 10 years. A copy of both reports are available in the Library. Over the last five years, departmental funding (of £4.16 million in 2006-07), has supported a number of hospital based initiatives to increase donor rates such as donor liaison nurses, live donor co-ordinators, new non heart beating donor programmes and additional transplant co-ordinators and media campaigns. To build on these initiatives; the Organ Donation Taskforce was established in 2006 to identify the barriers to donation and action to take to increase donor rates. On 16 January 2008, the Government accepted the taskforce recommendations and made £11 million extra funding available to support implementation from 2008-09.

Prostate Cancer

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 23 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1202W, to the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland), on prostate cancer, at which sites focusing on cancer information prescriptions were trialled; what the outcomes of such trials were; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: There are four information prescription pilots that provide cancer information; County Durham Primary Care Trust working with Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust working with Macmillan Cancer Support, CancerBACUP and Cancer UK, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust working with the Mid Trent Cancer Network and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust working with South West London Cancer Network and CancerBACUP.
	These pilots are among 20 information prescription pilots that have developed and delivered information prescriptions in different ways over the past year. A full evaluation report of all the information prescription pilots will be published in spring 2008.

Specialist Palliative and Neurological Care: Shipley

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data are used by commissioners to determine the need for specialist palliative and neurological care in Shipley constituency.

Ivan Lewis: It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs), including Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT, within the national health service to commission services for their resident population, including end of life care and neurological care, based on an assessment of local needs and priorities. Strategic health authorities are responsible for monitoring PCTs to ensure they are effective and efficient.
	The NHS operating framework for 2007-08 asked PCTs, working with local authorities, to undertake a baseline review of their end of life care services. These will allow local commissioners to assess current services, identify gaps and obtain a much clearer view of local need, which will inform local commissioning.
	Regarding neurological care, the information strategy published alongside the National Service Framework for Long-term (Neurological) Conditions outlines commissioners' information requirements and a series of local and national actions designed to meet those needs.

Specialist Palliative and Neurological Care: Shipley

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on supportive and palliative care has been fully implemented in Shipley constituency.

Ivan Lewis: It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs), including Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCTs, within the national health service to commission services for their resident population, including end of life care, based on assessments of local needs and priorities. The NHS has been required to set out action plans to achieve compliance with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendations on supportive and palliative care. Implementation is being monitored by strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	Information on the rate of progress locally can be obtained through Yorkshire and the Humber SHA.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Business Appointments Advisory Committee

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments' annual report for 2006-07 to be published.

Edward Miliband: The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments intends to publish its ninth report covering the two-year period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2008. It is planned to be published before the summer recess.

Government Departments: Databases

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government's data sharing programme.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	The Service Transformation Agreement (STA) published on 8 October 2007 is the implementation plan by which Government will deliver services that are better for customers, better for staff and better for the taxpayer. Fundamental to that is using the information we have to better effect. This work is continuing and it is too early to assess its effectiveness.
	On 25 October the Prime Minister asked Richard Thomas and Dr. Mark Walport to carry out an independent review of the use and sharing of personal information in the public and private sectors. In addition, on 21 November, the Prime Minister asked the Cabinet Secretary to work with Departments to ensure that they, and all agencies, check their procedures for the storage and use of data.
	The Government will shortly launch a consultation on recommendations to enhance the Information Commissioner's powers and for new penalties related to the Data Protection Act.
	The review's recommendations, together with the results of the consultation, will be taken into consideration when decisions are made on strengthening data sharing and protection.

Ministerial Policy Advisers: Resignations

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 22 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 147-50WS, how many of the special advisers in post on 22 November 2007 have since  (a) resigned and  (b) given notice of their intention to resign.

Edward Miliband: Since 2003, the Government have updated the names and numbers of special advisers by way of an annual statement. The Government intend to publish the statement for 2007-08 before the summer recess.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

1 Carlton Gardens

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 964W, on 1 Carlton Gardens, what the reasons were for the time taken by the right hon. Member for Derby South to vacate 1 Carlton Gardens after ceasing to be a Minister;
	(2)  whether the right hon. Member for Derby, South was charged  (a) rent,  (b) council tax and  (c) utility bill costs whilst she occupied 1 Carlton Gardens after ceasing to be a Minister in June 2007.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett) was given a reasonable amount of time to make arrangements to move to another property. During this period, she continued to pay tax on ancillary services associated with the flat, which are provided for use in the private part of the accommodation and which constitute a taxable benefit in kind.

Caribbean: Royal Visits

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK Government officials will accompany HRH Prince of Wales during his visit to the Caribbean in March; and which of these will be accommodated on the Leander.

Meg Munn: holding answer 5 March 2008
	Staff from our high commissions in Port of Spain, Castries and Kingston and the Governor's Office in Montserrat will participate in various engagements during the visit. None of them will be accommodated on the Leander.

Cuba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have taken place between representatives of the Government and the Cuban government in the last two years; and whether he plans to meet the new President of that country.

Meg Munn: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office meet regularly with their counterparts both in the Cuban Government in Havana and Cuban embassy in London. In addition my right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), the then Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, met Cuban Minister of Trade, Antonio Carricarte on 30 April 2007. I met with the Cuban Inter-Parliamentary Union delegation, headed by Jamie Crombert, on 13 November 2007. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Eumelio Caballero is due to visit the UK next month. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to meet the new Cuban President.

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress his Department has made in its zero-based budget review under the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the Annex pertaining to my department in meeting the aspirations of the British people: the 2007 pre-Budget report and Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm 7227).
	The conclusions of our zero based review informed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) settlement, as part of which we identified scope to achieve £144 million of cash-releasing, sustained Value for Money savings in 2010-11.
	We have published our Value for Money Delivery Agreement, which sets out how these gains will be achieved, and will report on progress in our Autumn Performance Report. The FCO's CSR07 Value for Money Delivery Agreement has been published on our website:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/CSR07%20VfM%20 Delivery%20Agreement.pdf.

Departmental Equality

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conclusions his Department has reached in fulfilment of the duty under section 3.111 of the statutory code of practice of the disability equality duty.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is fully committed to the Disability Equality Duty and the promotion of disability equality in the way it develops policy, employs staff and delivers services.
	In the last year the FCO has made considerable progress in widening the scope and strengthening the effectiveness of its Disability Equality Scheme, in direct response to feedback and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including disabled people and the former Disability Rights Commission. A revised Disability Scheme and Action Plan will be published shortly.
	The FCO recognises the need for strong and effective governance in this area and has mandated a senior level Steering Group, chaired by me as the FCO's Equality Minister, to ensure the FCO is effective in meeting all of its obligations under the relevant public sector equality duties.
	The FCO published its first Annual Review of Diversity in March 2008 and it summarises where we have made progress and where we need to further improve. A detailed update of progress against the Disability Equality Scheme and its associated Action Plan is planned for publication in April 2008.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's personal digital assistants have been  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in each of the last five years; and what the value of those items was.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office devolves responsibility for the purchase and safekeeping of these items to its directorates and posts overseas. Consequently it is not possible to provide the details and outcome of every reported incident of loss or theft worldwide without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Confirmed losses are subject to formal write-off procedures. There have been none in relation to personal digital assistants in the last five years.

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) mobile telephones,  (b) personal digital assistants and  (c) laptop computers issued to departmental staff were reported (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen in each year since 2001.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office devolves responsibility for the purchase and safekeeping of these items to its directorates and posts overseas. Consequently it is not possible to provide the details and outcome of every reported incident of loss or theft worldwide without incurring disproportionate cost.
	A review of the arrangements for the purchase, management and disposal of laptops and other mobile devices is in progress, with a view to establishing what additional mechanisms should be implemented to enhance the central system of control.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people over the age of 55 have been recruited by his Department in each of the last three years.

Meg Munn: The number of people over the age of 55 who were recruited by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in each of the last three years is provided as follows:
	
		
			   Number of recruits aged 55 and over 
			 2005 45 
			 2006 50 
			 2007 42 
			 2008 to date 4

Departmental Plants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on pot plants in each of the last five years.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a number of contracts to supply and maintain pot plants on its home and overseas estate. Central records are not held and it would not be possible to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Translation Services

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how much was spent on translation services for people in the UK who do not speak English by his Department, associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05,  (c) 2005-06,  (d) 2006-07 and  (e) to date in 2007-08;
	(2)  what documents his Department, associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies translate for people in the UK who do not speak English.

Meg Munn: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Services: Translation and Interpreting receives from FCO customers virtually no requests to provide translation services aimed at people in the UK who do not speak English, other than the occasional public information notice. For example, in 2006, Consular Directorate commissioned the translation of a public information notice on child abduction in Pakistan. The spend with FCO Services: Translation and Interpreting by FCO customers on work of this kind is less than £1,000 per year.

Diego Garcia

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory last visited Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory visited Diego Garcia and the outer islands from 14 to 22 September 2006.

Diplomatic Service: Parliamentary Questions

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that parliamentary questions relating to specific countries are communicated for information to British diplomatic staff in those countries.

Meg Munn: British diplomatic staff serving in countries which are the subject of a parliamentary question are often involved in the drafting of answers to those questions. It has not, however, been standard practice to copy staff into parliamentary questions as a matter of course. We will amend our guidance to ensure that this practice is now in place.

Entry Clearances: Contracts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether checks on applicants for UK visas are outsourced by UK consulates.

Meg Munn: There are at present 106 visa application centres (VACs) in 49 countries which accept visa applications on behalf of visa sections overseas. These VACs are responsible for collecting biometric information along with the visa fees. They also provide advice on the application process, including whether or not all the necessary documents have been provided. VACs take no part in the decision, whether to issue or refuse a visa, and carry out no formal checks on applicants.

Equatorial Guinea: Diplomatic Service

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will  (a) put in place increased British consular resources in Equatorial Guinea and  (b) establish a temporary consular office in Malabo.

Meg Munn: There are currently no plans to increase the level of UK consular resources in Equatorial Guinea or establish a temporary consular office in Malabo. UK diplomatic and consular representation for Equatorial Guinea is provided on a non-resident basis from our Missions in Nigeria, and we are confident that we can meet all the consular needs of British nationals within this arrangement.

Forced Marriage

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department takes to record activities relating to suspected forced marriages in cases involving immigration; whether it is possible to identify people suspected of being involved in activities relating to forced marriage if they subsequently try to gain admission to the UK; and what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on this matter.

Meg Munn: The joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office forced marriage unit offers assistance to reluctant sponsors. These are individuals who are forced into a marriage and then subsequently coerced into sponsoring a spouse visa. When contacted by a reluctant sponsor the unit liaises closely with the relevant overseas entry clearance officials to ensure they are aware of the full situation in regard to the sponsor. Post will then process the visa application according to the immigration rules. Where visas are refused details of the unsuccessful application are retained and referred to if the person applies for another visa at a later stage.
	If a victim of forced marriage contacts the forced marriage unit after their spouse has entered the UK, the unit encourages the victim to write to the Border and Immigration Agency (as the agency responsible for processing any further applications for settlement) with full details of their reluctance to support any further applications.

Gujarat: Homicide

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department has continued to offer the assistance of UK police in the investigation of the deaths of the two members of the family of Mr. Yusuf Dawood of Huntingdon in Gujarat in 2002;
	(2)  whether his Department is requesting further information on the progress of the case in India against the people accused of the deaths of the two members of Mr. Yusuf Dawood's family in Gujarat in 2002.

Meg Munn: holding answer 6 March 2008
	In our regular contacts with the Indian authorities we have continued to offer the assistance of UK police in the investigation of the tragic deaths of two members of the Dawood family in the inter-communal riots in Gujurat in 2002. We have also asked to be kept updated on the progress of the case against those who have been arrested in connection with the incident. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East, raised both of these issues directly with the Indian authorities during his visit to India in May 2007. My noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, subsequently wrote to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in July 2007. Our deputy high commissioner in New Delhi followed this up during a call on the Ministry of External Affairs in August 2007 and wrote a further letter in November 2007. We have yet to receive any response from the Indian authorities to any of these letters but we will continue to press for one.

Iran: Israel

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take at the United Nations about derogatory statements made by the President of Iran about the State of Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government have consistently condemned the Iranian President's inflammatory comments about the State of Israel and his offensive statements about the Holocaust. President Ahmadinejad's approach towards Israel can only damage international confidence that Iran is willing to act as a respectable member of the international community.
	Most recently, on 25 February, the EU presidency, with strong UK support, issued a statement condemning the recent anti-Israeli comments made by Iranian leaders. The statement called on Iran to refrain from all threats towards other states, to support the need for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the search for lasting peace between Iran and its neighbours. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary commented publicly:
	"I have always said that Iran is a cultured and educated country with the potential to be a key player in a key region of the world. Foreign Minister Mottaki has written in the Guardian about his country's commitments to stability. But recent appalling comments about Israel are a recipe for instability. On 31 January President Ahmadinejad said
	'the mighty hands of the Palestinian people will bring about annihilation of the Zionist regime'.
	The Commander in Chief of the IRCG said:
	'In the near future we must see the annihilation of the cancerous tumour of the Israeli occupation by the mighty force of the Hezbollah Ummah fighters'.
	This rhetoric is damaging to the Middle East and damaging to Iran. The people deserve better than their leaders."

Japan: Foreign Relations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of Japanese relations with the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Relations between Japan and the UK are excellent. We co-operate closely on a range of key global issues including climate change, development, international security and science and technology, as outlined in the 2007 UK-Japan Joint Statement. Our two countries also enjoy thriving economic and trade links, and Japanese investment continues to be very important for the UK economy. In addition to these areas of shared interest, our close and collaborative relationship allows us to raise frankly with our Japanese colleagues those issues where we disagree, such as whaling and the death penalty.
	Both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary recently held telephone conversations with their Japanese counterparts. They also look forward to visiting Japan in the next few months for the G8 Summit and related meetings. I hope we will be able to explore new ways in which we can strengthen our ties ahead of and during these visits.

Japan: Overseas Trade

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value of trade between the UK and Japan was in 2007.

Meg Munn: According to UK Trade and Investment figures, exports of goods to Japan in 2007 were £3,762 million and imports of goods from Japan were £7,982 million. Data for services trade with Japan for 2007 are not yet available, but in 2006 UK exports of services to Japan were worth £4,140 million.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Arab states about suicide bombings in Israel; what the outcome of those discussions has been; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses the Israeli-Palestinian issue with his Arab interlocutors. On 13 February, he met his Jordanian counterpart, Salah Bashir, and discussed the Middle East Peace Process. On 19 February, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Aboul Gheit, about the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On 4 February, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a statement condemning the suicide attack in Dimona that day.
	The Government continue to make clear that 2008 is a key year for progress on the Middle East Peace Process. The situation on the ground—security and humanitarian—can help or hinder this process. We support the efforts of our EU and UN colleagues to promote an effective Palestinian security force and the reopening of the Gaza crossings. The Reform and Development Plan of the Palestinian Authority is the best hope of sustainable economic and social improvement for Palestinians. The UK has announced a contribution of up to £243 million, linked to political progress and Palestinian reform efforts.

Rendition

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department to meet the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to discuss issues related to rendition; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: On 5 March my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, spoke to Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, in the margins of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Minister encouraged Mr. Nowak to provide the Government with any evidence he may have regarding allegations that detainees may have been held on Diego Garcia between 2002 and 2003.

South America: British Nationality

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to assist UK citizens in  (a) Venezuela, ( b) Colombia and  (c) Ecuador should circumstances require it; when these plans were last revised; in what circumstances he would implement them; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Like all our Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Missions overseas, our embassies in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador have robust contingency planning processes, which are reviewed and updated regularly. If there is a risk in a host country (e.g. from civil disorder or a natural disaster) that could lead to an evacuation of British nationals, the FCO mission there will hold a civil contingency plan. Missions continually assess the risk level they face and plan accordingly. In compiling civil contingency plans, the FCO's objective is to protect British nationals from a situation that poses a serious threat to their safety and, in a worst case scenario, to assist their departure to a place of safety. We encourage our Missions overseas to ensure their plans are compatible with other European partners and to identify areas where cooperation would enhance our planning.
	The FCO travel advice for all three countries remains under constant review and has been amended to include factual information about recent developments. We have advised against all but essential travel to certain areas along the Colombian/Venezuelan border. A full copy of the latest FCO travel advice can be read at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
	To ensure we are better placed to communicate with them at times of crisis, British nationals living overseas are also encouraged to register online with LOCATE, the FCO's consular registration system, at the same website address.

Sudan: Armed Conflict

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on clashes in Abyei, Sudan between the Sudan People's Liberation Army and the Misseriya tribes people; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We are aware of clashes between units of the Sudan People's Liberation Army and armed elements of the Misseriya tribes in Abyei and that the UN-Mission in Sudan personnel are mediating to end the fighting. We continue to press both the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan to establish an interim civil administration in Abyei to deal with the root causes of these clashes and deliver basic services.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in agreeing a cessation of hostilities in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: holding answer 6 March 2008
	The Government of Sudan announced a cessation of hostilities at the beginning of the African Union (AU) and UN-led peace talks on 27 October 2007 in Sirte, Libya. Few of the key rebel movements attended the talks and none have yet committed to a cessation of hostilities. We have urged all parties to fully commit to a cessation of hostilities and honour that commitment. We continue to work with the AU, UN, key allies and troop contributing countries to ensure that the UN-AU Mission in Darfur is an effective peacekeeping force and to ensure that any new agreement on a cessation of hostilities can be effectively monitored.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any new pledges for helicopters for the UNAMID force in Darfur were received in February; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: holding answer 6 March 2008
	We understand Ethiopia has offered to contribute a number of light tactical helicopters to the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), and that other potential contributors have been in talks with the UN. Following meetings convened in New York in January at the UK's initiative to discuss UNAMID helicopter provision, we continue to work closely in support of the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations' efforts to fill the remaining shortfall, including by urging potential helicopter providers to step forward and contribute to this mission.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many  (a) police officers and  (b) formed police units are deployed with UNAMID in Darfur; and if he will make a statement on progress made towards full deployment.

Meg Munn: holding answer 6 March 2008
	 Our latest information is that one Formed Police Unit (FPU) of 140 police officers from Bangladesh and approximately 1,600 individual police officers have now deployed with the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). At full deployment the UNAMID police element will consist of 3,772 individual police officers and 19 FPUs, but shortfalls remain in the number of police pledged for the mission. We are supporting the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations in pressing for rapid progress towards full deployment, and we are investigating how best the UK can directly contribute to this critical mission capability.

United Nations: Sanctions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people resident in the UK were subject to sanctions by the UN Security Council in 2003; what the average duration of those individuals' appearance on the sanctions list was; and  (a) how many and  (b) for what reasons individuals were removed from the list in the same period.

Meg Munn: holding answer 6 March 2008
	There were six individuals resident in the UK subject to UN sanctions in 2003. By the end of 2003 the average length of time spent by these individuals on the sanctions list was just under 18 months. No individuals resident in the UK were removed from the sanctions list during 2003.

United Nations: Sanctions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2008,  Official Report, column 713W, on United Nations: sanctions, what representations on cross-border travel he has received from persons who have been blacklisted by the UN under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Meg Munn: holding answer 6 March 2008
	The Government are unaware of any representations on cross-border travel from persons resident in the UK subject to sanctions by the UN Security Council.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Apprenticeships

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what percentage of Government-sponsored apprenticeships were completed in the last year for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The most recent apprenticeship success rate figure available on the Learning and Skills Council website:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/Data/statistics/success/WBL.htm
	(which is updated on a quarterly basis) is 63 per cent. in 2006/07. The percentage of apprentices who complete their full apprenticeship framework has grown dramatically from only 24 per cent. in 2001/02 to 63 per cent. in 2006/07 and is still rising. This shows the ongoing improving status and quality of apprenticeships.

Communication

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of language services professionals including  (a) qualified British Sign Language interpreters,  (b) cued speech transliterators,  (c) speech to text reporters and  (d) electronic/manual notetakers.

Bill Rammell: The Department recognises the need to ensure the workforce supporting learners is sufficient and capable to support learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The Government are not the employer of language services professionals and therefore the department is not involved in the recruitment or deployment of such staff. We do expect our learning providers to recruit and organise their workforce to meet local circumstances and learner and business needs.
	Our delivery partner the Learning and Skills Council, has stated in its strategy for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, "Learning for Living and Work" (2006) that it is of prime importance to address workforce development. The strategy has identified where gaps in specialist support occur and is working with the sector skills council covering teachers and support staff, Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) to address these issues. Detailed plans are still under consideration.

Departmental Absenteeism

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the absence rate among his Department's staff was in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: DIUS was created by Machinery elements of the then Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
	There are records of average working days lost per employee due to illness for the period from July to December 2007. DIUS continues to rely for this information on the computer systems of the departments from which it transferred staff at its inception. These show average working days lost per employee in the six month period of 2.7 for ex-DTI employees and 4.1 for ex-DfES employees.

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) mobile telephones,  (b) personal digital assistants and  (c) laptop computers issued to staff in his Department or its predecessor were reported (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen in each year since 2001.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) was created by the Prime Minister on 28 June 2007;
	 (a) Zero
	 (b) Zero
	 (c) Zero

Departmental Manpower

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many reports have been made to his Department's nominated officers under paragraph 16 of the revised Civil Service Code since its publication on 6 June 2006.

David Lammy: Since the publication of the revised civil service code on 6 June 2006 my Department's nominated officers have received no reports made under paragraph 16.

Departmental Manpower

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been reported to his Department by departmental staff since 6 June 2006.

Bill Rammell: Since the publication of the revised civil service code on 6 June 2006, my Department's nominated officers have received no reports of allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many  (a) staff and  (b) full-time equivalent staff under 18 years are employed by his Department.

Bill Rammell: The response assumes that part  (a) refers to staff of all ages.
	 Ex - DTI (BERR):
	(a) 204.3 full-time equivalent
	(b) 0
	 Ex-DfES (DCSF):
	(a) 520.0
	(b) 0

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited by his Department and its predecessors in each of the last three years.

Bill Rammell: DIUS was created by Machinery of Government changes in July 2007 from elements of the previous Department of Trade and Industry and Department for Education and Skills. DIUS does not have a record of recruitment by its predecessor departments but the detail of recruitment since its formation can be reported. Recruitment by DIUS since it was established has been very limited and of these recruits just one is aged over 55 years.

Departmental Property

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what property has been lost or stolen from his Department since its formation; and what the cost of replacement was.

Bill Rammell: Records of lost or stolen property for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills are kept on its behalf as part of a shared service provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Where such assets have been lost, they have been included in answers given on behalf of those Departments.

Departmental Publicity

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the estimated total cost of re-branding is expected to be following the formation of his Department.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was formed on 28 June 2007, following the machinery of Government changes. Since this date the Department has spent an estimated £33,556.75 on signposts, graphic designers and stationery. Work on the website is expected to come to in the region of £60,000 for the financial year 2007-08. We are not expecting any further rebranding costs.

Departmental Records

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many classified documents went missing from his Department in the last 12 months for which figures are available; at what grades of classification; and whether any of these were in the post.

Bill Rammell: No such incidents have been reported.

Higher Education: Immigration

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the financial impact of the new immigration rules on the income of universities.

Bill Rammell: International students contribute an estimated £5 billion a year to the UK economy and are vital to the economic, academic and cultural life of FE and HE institutions. Through Universities UK's membership of the Joint Education Taskforce, we are ensuring that Universities are fully engaged in changes to immigration rules and, in particular changes that may impact on their income, such as the ability to recruit international students.

Higher Education: International Cooperation

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on improving higher education links with  (a) Vietnam,  (b) the People's Republic of China,  (c) the Republic of South Africa and  (d) Cuba; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Secretary of State regularly meets the Foreign Secretary and discusses a range of issues including higher education links between England/UK and other countries. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has lead responsibility for the Prime Minister's Initiative for international education (PMI) which seeks to maintain the United Kingdom's position as a leader in international education. One of the major elements of the PMI is about enhancing and improving collaboration between UK educational institutions and those abroad and higher education plays a key role in this. China and Vietnam are priority countries for PMI. I have today signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with my counterpart from Vietnam, the Vice Minister of Education and Training. The MoC signing reconfirms the UK Government's support for education co-operation with Vietnam.
	The Department also supports a number of programmes to encourage collaboration between the UK and strategic partner countries These include the development of higher education links with China and South Africa.

Higher Education: Islam

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether his Department plans to provide guidance to further education colleges planning to recruit Muslim chaplains or train those already carrying out this function.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council has funded the National Ecumenical Agency in Further Education (now reconstituted into the National Council for Faiths and Beliefs in Further Education—FBFE) to develop guidance for chaplains and multi-faith support teams. This was published in January 2008. Training materials for new chaplains will be published very shortly.
	Any further enhancements that are needed to the guidance and training materials will be determined according to the outcome of the consultation on 'The Role of Further Education Providers in Promoting Community Cohesion, Fostering Shared Values and Preventing Violent Extremism', once known.
	Communities and Local Government (CLG) is leading on the development of a framework of standards for institutions engaging Muslim faith leaders in public service. This will deliver a commitment set out in CLG's Preventing Violent Extremism Action Plan, published in April 2007, and will include FE colleges.

Higher Educations: Radicalism

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether he has made an assessment of which further education colleges face a particular threat from violent extremism.

Bill Rammell: The evidence we have is that there is a very small minority of individuals who seek to promote or undertake acts of violence and that they sometimes seek to recruit other individuals to hold similar views. As such, there is a serious, but not widespread problem.
	We believe that colleges are best placed, with their local partners, to determine the level of threat they may face from violent extremism, but that all should be actively promoting community cohesion and shared values while remaining vigilant.

Students: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was spent by the Higher Education Funding Council for England on teaching costs for full-time and part-time higher education students on level 4 programmes in 2006-07; and how much is planned to be spent in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2008-09,  (c) 2009-10 and  (d) 2010-11.

Bill Rammell: We do not hold data specifically at level 4. However, the amounts that the Higher Education Funding Council for England have/will spend on teaching costs for full and part time higher education students on programmes at level 4 and above are outlined in the following table:
	
		
			   Recurrent teaching grant  ( £ million ) 
			 2006-07 4567 
			 2007-08 4766 
			 2008-09 4920 
			 2009-10(1) 5095 
			 2010-11(1) 5325 
			 (1) The figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are indicative at this stage and will be confirmed in the grant letters for those years.

Students: Loans

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether, following the introduction of identity cards on a voluntary basis, an applicant for a student loan will be required to demonstrate that they hold an identity card in order to complete the application.

Bill Rammell: The policy on the introduction of identity cards on a voluntary basis rests with the Home Office. Currently either a passport or a birth certificate (accompanied by an identity confirmation form signed by a person of good standing) is required as proof of identity for students applying for a Government Student Loan. We have no current plans to change this, although the process for verifying the identity of applicants is kept under review.

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people who encountered difficulties in providing personal identification on applying for a student loan in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The responsibility for confirming the identity of applicants for student support in England rests with local authorities and no information is held centrally about the numbers of applicants who experience difficulties in providing the necessary personal information.
	Students are currently asked to provide either a valid passport, or a birth certificate accompanied by an identity confirmation form signed by a person of good standing.

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the extent to which student loans cover university accommodation costs; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Maintenance loans are available to eligible full-time students on courses of higher education to help them cover their general living costs. However, we do not specify how students should spend their loans.
	The Department undertakes a Student Income and Expenditure Survey (SIES) periodically. This survey provides information about patterns of student income and expenditure, including average accommodation costs, for an academic year, and also the level of support that students receive by way of loans. The last published report covered the 2004/05 academic year, and research is currently in the field for 2007/08, which will report in 2009.
	The maximum amounts of loan available are uprated each year in line with forecast inflation. However, we departed from our usual practice during the public debate on the new package of student support for 2006/07 that took place during the time that the 2004 Higher Education Bill was passing through Parliament. We adjusted the maximum loan amounts for the 2008/07 academic year in order to match the median of students' basic living costs, as established by the 2002/03 SIES. For subsequent academic years up to and including 2009/10, we have reverted to the usual practice of uprating the maximum loan amounts in line with forecast inflation.

Translation Services

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills into what languages departmental publications were translated in 2006-07; how many were translated; and what the total cost of translation was in that year.

Bill Rammell: Following the machinery of government changes, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created in June 2007 and therefore DIUS did not translate any publications in financial year 2006-07.

Vocational Guidance

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what contribution his Department makes to the pursuit of the skills agenda through career guidance programmes run in schools.

David Lammy: We are working closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families to raise aspirations of young people and encourage them to acquire the skills and qualifications they will need to succeed in their careers. Through Sector Skills Councils, we are ensuring employers have a strong voice in shaping qualifications to meet their needs. We are also working with DCSF to ensure young people have access to the range of information about careers to help them make informed choices and to ensure smooth transition in the support available to them as young adults and the help provided by the new adult advancement and careers service.

Vocational Training

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will list the signatories to the Skills Pledge.

Bill Rammell: Latest data from the Learning and Skills Council indicate that as at the end of January 2008 there were 1,239 organisations that had made the Skills Pledge. I am placing a copy of the information in the Libraries of the House.

TREASURY

Alcoholic Drinks: Death

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people died from an alcohol-related underlying cause aged  (a) under 20, ( b) 21-30,  (c) 31-40,  (d) 41-50,  (e) 51-60 and  (f) 61 years and above in each constituency in Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last 10 years, broken down by sex; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died from an alcohol-related underlying cause aged (a) under 20, (b) 21-30, (c) 31-40, (d) 41-50, (e) 51-60 and (f) 61 years and above in each constituency in Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last 10 years, broken down by sex. (192896)
	The tables attached provide the number of deaths with an alcohol-related underlying cause in the Yorkshire and The Humber government office region, broken down by age group (Table 1), and in parliamentary constituencies in the Yorkshire and The Humber government office region, broken down by sex (Table 2), from 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available). Figures are not available for parliamentary constituencies, broken down by sex and age together, as these data are judged to be too detailed to preserve anonymity in death statistics. A copy of the tables has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Bank Services: Liechtenstein

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when his Department became aware that details of bank accounts in Liechtenstein of UK residents were available for sale; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when his Department took the decision to purchase information relating to bank accounts in Liechtenstein of UK residents; how many of the Liechtenstein account holders are non-domiciled for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions were held on the issue of purchasing information on bank accounts in Liechtenstein of UK residents between HM Revenue and Customs and  (a) Treasury officials and  (b) Ministers before the decision was taken to purchase the information; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK residents referred to in the information purchased from Liechtenstein who  (a) are and  (b) have been evading UK tax payments; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  how many UK residents referred to in the information purchased from Liechtenstein are the subject of investigation by HM Revenue and Customs; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 March 2008
	HMRC learnt in July 2005 that details of Liechtenstein bank accounts held by UK residents might be made available to a number of countries. HMRC worked with other countries to secure and share Liechtenstein bank account information through bi-lateral international treaties.
	By virtue of section 26 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, HMRC is empowered to pay a reward in return for a service provided to it. No further information can be provided on the handling of individual cases involving intelligence sources of this kind.
	126 individuals who are or were resident in the United Kingdom have been investigated or are presently under inquiry by HMRC. The existence of an account in Liechtenstein does not of itself indicate tax evasion but many of the individuals under inquiry by HMRC have made disclosures about their tax affairs. HMRC does not have details at this time of the domicile status of Liechtenstein account holders under inquiry.

Child Benefit: Overseas Residence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons claiming child benefit in the United Kingdom are doing so in respect of children not resident in the United Kingdom; and what the financial cost was of such payments in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Entitlement to child benefit is generally reliant on the child in the award being present in the UK. There are a number of circumstances where child benefit is payable when the child is not resident. For example where the child is receiving medical treatment anywhere abroad for an illness that began before the child left the UK or where the person claiming child benefit is working in the UK and paying UK national insurance contributions and their family is living in another EEA country.
	The information requested is not available in the format requested.

Departmental Advertising

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of his Department's initiatives were advertised to the public in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost of each such campaign was in each year.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne) on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1364W. The majority of the Treasury's spending on advertising is for the purposes of recruitment, except where indicated in the previous answer referred to.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that documents relating to his Department which are made publicly available by the US Congress Library following a freedom of information request in the United States also be made publicly available in the UK.

Angela Eagle: Decisions to publish information are made on an individual basis, taking account of all the circumstances in any particular case.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether consideration has been given to applying gender responsive budgeting to his Department's budget.

Angela Eagle: The UK Government are supportive of efforts to achieve gender equality and continue to work very closely with both the Women's National Commission and the Women's Budget Group on promoting gender equality within the UK.
	In 2004, HM Treasury undertook a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure with the Women's Budget Group. The project demonstrated the value of gender analysis in some areas and identified what tools and expertise were necessary within Government to carry out gender analysis, but that further work was needed before gender responsive budgeting could be implemented.
	In 2008, HM Treasury will be conducting further work that will determine whether it is prudent and feasible to disaggregate departmental expenditure statistics by gender.

Employment: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which 10 job classifications have shown the greatest  (a) growth and  (b) decline in employment in (i) the London region and (ii) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the ten job classifications which have shown the greatest (a) growth (b) decline in employment in (i) the London region and (ii) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency since 1997. (191957)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, provides estimates of total employment for people resident in the London Government Office region and in the Bexleyheath and Crayford Parliamentary constituency, by occupation. The figures provided are for the twelve months ending February 2002 and for the latest period, the twelve months ending March 2007. The source data used is the APS, using Standard Occupational Classification 2000 (SOC2000). The twenty-five occupational classifications are ranked according to the largest positive change in Bexleyheath and Crayford. Data prior to 2002 are classified using Standard Occupational Classification 1990 (SOC90), consequently it is not possible to provide a consistent time series for the period requested.
	Since these estimates are for a subset of the population in a small geographical area, they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty. In this case, for the Bexleyheath and Crayford, the sample sizes are not sufficient to give accurate estimates in all instances.
	
		
			  Total Employment by Standard Occupational Classification( 1)  (two digit) London( 2)  and Bexleyheath and Crayford( 3) 
			  T housand 
			   London  Bexleyheath and Crayford 
			   March 2001 to February 2002  April 2006 to March 2007  Net change 2002-07  March 2001 to February 2002  April 2006 to March 2007  Net change 2002-07 
			 71 sales occupations 203 194 -9 2 3 1 
			 21 science and technology professionals 141 142 1 2 2 1 
			 61 caring personal service occupations 140 175 34 2 2 1 
			 23 teaching and research professionals 167 175 8 1 1 0 
			 33 protective service occupations 24 27 2 1 1 0 
			 31 science and technology associate professionals 61 61 0 2 2 0 
			 52 skilled metal and electronic trades 84 77 -6 1 1 0 
			 51 skilled agricultural trades 11 12 0 0 0 0 
			 53 skilled construction and building trades 92 120 28 1 1 0 
			 91 elementary trades, plant and storage related 60 67 7 1 1 0 
			 82 transport and mobile machine drivers/operatives 96 99 3 2 2 0 
			 35 business and public service assoc. professional 249 237 -13 2 2 0 
			 11 Corporate managers 444 491 48 4 3 0 
			 81 process, plant and machine operatives 57 49 -8 1 0 -1 
			 42 secretarial and related occupations 140 124 -16 3 2 -1 
			 92 elementary administration and service occs 256 253 -3 4 3 -1 
			 41 administrative occupations 366 320 -46 8 7 -2 
			 12 managers/proprietors in agriculture/services 112 132 20 (4)— 1 (4)— 
			 22 health professionals 45 53 9 0 (4)— (4)— 
			 24 business and public service professionals 180 213 33 (4)— 1 (4)— 
			 32 health and social welfare assoc. professional 107 125 18 (4)— 1 (4)— 
			 34 culture, media and sports occupations 172 180 8 (4)— 2 (4)— 
			 54 textiles, printing and other skilled trades 64 63 0 (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 62 leisure and other personal service occs 69 76 6 (4)— (4)— (4)— 
			 72 customer service occupations 30 32 1 (4)— 0 (4)— 
			 (1) Standard occupational classification (SOC2000). (2) Government office region. (3) Parliamentary constituencies 2005 revision. (4) Sample size too small to provide an estimate.  Notes: 1. As with any sample survey, estimates from the Annual Population Survey are subject to a margin of uncertainty. 2. APS figures are grossed to population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003 which are significantly lower than the latest population estimates as used in the Labour Market Statistics. 3. At the two digit SOC2000 level there are 25 classification groups. 4. All 25 occupational classification groups are provided, ranked according to the largest positive change in Bexleyheath and Crayford.  Source: Annual Population Survey

EU Nationals: Lancashire

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of non-British EU nationals working in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) Morecambe and Lunesdale in the latest period for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on what the most recent estimate is of the number non British EU nationals working in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) Morecombe and Lunesdale in the latest period for which figures are available. (192592)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles statistics on non British EU nationals working in local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS). The National Statistics method for estimating the number of non British EU nationals employed in the UK is routinely based on the number of people at a given time who are of working age (16-64 for men, 16-59 for women), and in employment. This question has been answered on this basis. It means, for example, that people who are working but are above state pension age are not included.
	APS estimates at this detailed level are only available consistent with population estimates published in February and March 2003 and are not comparable with the estimates published in the Labour Market Statistics First Release on 13 February 2008, which are based on latest population estimates.
	From the APS, there were an estimated 7,000 non British EU nationals of working age in employment who were resident in Lancashire for the twelve month period ending in June 2007, Estimates for the Parliamentary constituency of Morecombe and Lunesdale are not available since the group sampling size is zero or disclosive. The July 2006 to June 2007 APS dataset is the most recent available.
	It should be noted that the nationality question in the APS may undercount the number of foreign nationals because it excludes certain people who have been resident in the UK less than six months, students in halls who do not have a UK resident parent and people living in most other types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites, etc).
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenues which would accrue to the Exchequer from taxation and duties on alcoholic drinks if goods brought into the UK for personal consumption were liable for taxation.

Angela Eagle: Estimates of the revenue impact of cross-border shopping on UK spirits duty are published annually by HM Revenue and Customs in the Measuring Indirect Tax Losses report. The 2007 report is available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2007/mitl.pdf
	The most recently published estimate of the revenue impact of cross-border shopping on beer and wine duty was last published in the 2005 report. HM Revenue and Customs are currently reviewing the methodology and will be producing an update in the 2008 report which will be published alongside the 2008 pre-Budget report.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on his proposed increase of fuel duty from 1 April 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Lady to the answers I gave the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight) and the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 330W.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the costs of taxing vehicles for two six month periods rather than a single period of one year; and what estimate he has made of the transaction costs of processing  (a) two six month applications and  (b) one annual application.

Angela Eagle: Six month licensing rates of vehicle excise duty are statutorily set at 55 per cent. of the equivalent annual rate, in recognition of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's administrative costs in processing additional licensing volumes. Six month licensing rates also reflect Exchequer impacts due to the later receipt of duty for the subsequent licence.
	The agency accepts licence payment through the Post Office saving stamps scheme, as this can help people set aside money towards their licence.
	The Chancellor keeps vehicle excise duty rates under review as part of the Budget process, with any changes announced in the context of his Budget statement.

Migrant Workers: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many migrant workers there were in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency,  (b) the London borough of Bexley and  (c) Greater London in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on what the most recent estimate is of the number of migrant workers in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford,  (b) the London Borough of Bexley and  (c) Greater London in each of the last three years. (191959)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles statistics on migrant workers for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS). The National Statistics method for estimating the number of migrant workers employed in the UK is routinely based on the number of people at a given time who were born abroad, are of working age (16-64 for men, 16-59 for women), and in employment. This question has been answered on this basis. It means, for example, that some people who are UK nationals will be included in the total of "foreign born" and that people who are working but are above state pension age are not included.
	APS estimates at this detailed level are only available consistent with population estimates published in February and March 2003 and are not comparable with the estimates published in the Labour Market Statistics First Release on 13 February 2008, which are based on latest population estimates.
	The table attached, shows the numbers of working age in employment who were not born in the UK and were resident in Bexleyheath and Crayford Parliamentary constituency, the London borough of Bexley and Greater London for the 12 month periods ending in June for 2005, 2006, and 2007 from the APS. The July to June 2007 APS dataset is the most recent which is currently available.
	When interpreting these figures, it is important to bear in mind that the APS is not designed to cover everyone who is present in the UK. The survey may undercount the numbers of people who were born overseas. The reasons are set out in the table footnote.
	As these estimates are for a subset of the population in small geographical areas they are based on small sample sizes, and are therefore subject to large margins of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Number of non-UK born persons in employment in Greater London, London borough of Bexley and Bexleyheath and Crayford in the last three years 
			  Thousand 
			   Migrant workers( 1) 
			  12 months ending  June :  Greater London  London borough of Bexley  Bexleyheath and Crayford 
			 2005 1,098 13 4 
			 2006 1,133 13 5 
			 2007 1,200 13 5 
			 (1) Includes males aged 16-64 and females aged 16-59. Does not include respondents who did not answer the question on country of birth. As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to margin of uncertainty. It should also be noted that the country of birth question in the APS may undercount the numbers of people who were born overseas it excludes certain people who have been resident in the UK for less than six months. it excludes students in halls who do not have a UK resident parent. it excludes people in most other types of communal establishments (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites, etc). it is grossed to population estimates which exclude migrants staying for less than 12 months. microdata are grossed to population estimates consistent with those published in spring 2003 which are significantly lower than the latest population estimates.  Source:  Annual Population Survey

Gift Aid

Clive Efford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to change the rules governing gift aid tax relief on donations paid by companies to allow the tax relief to be paid directly to the charities that benefited from the original donation; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Government keep all taxes under review. HM Treasury has recently consulted on ways to drive up charitable giving from individuals through Gift Aid. The consultation closed on 30 September 2007 and the Government will report back on progress shortly.

Households: Wirral

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of residents in Wirral West constituency are in  (a) single,  (b) co-habiting and  (c) married households.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the proportions of residents in Wirral West constituency who live in (a) single households, (b) co-habiting households and (c) married households. (192331).
	The figures are as follows:
	
		
			   Wirral, West 
			 All residents(1) 77,536 
			 All residents in households 76,535 
			 Percentage of all residents in households who live in single person households 13 
			 Percentage of all residents in households who live in cohabiting couple households 6 
			 Percentage of all residents in households who live in married couple households 53 
			 (1) Includes persons usually resident in communal establishments, such as hospitals and prisons (for example). 
		
	
	These figures have been extracted from 2001 Census Commissioned table C0892.

Humber Bridge: Debts

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Ministers from the Department for Transport on arrangements for settling the Humber Bridge debt; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has held no discussions with Ministers from the Department for Transport on this matter.

Job Creation: Durham

John Cummings: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs were created in the County of Durham in 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the number of jobs created in County Durham in 2007. (192574)
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes in employment from year to year.
	The Office for National Statistics compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1, attached, provides estimates based on people aged 16 and over, in employment, resident in County Durham.
	Figures are provided for the twelve months ending June 2006 and 2007.
	As with any survey, results from the APS at a small geographical area are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  PQ 230: Net change in employment level for people aged 16 and over by residence for County Durham 
			  Thousand 
			   Employment level  Net change 
			 2006(1) 214,400 — 
			 2007(1) 226,700 12,300 
			 (1) Figures are for the twelve months ending June that year from the Annual Population Survey.  Notes: 1. Figures at this detailed level are produced from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) microdata which are weighted to the population estimates published by ONS in spring 2003. These are lower than the latest population estimates used in the Labour Market First Release. 2. As with any survey, results from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.  Source: Annual Population Survey

Knowledge Network Project

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2133W, on Knowledge Network Project, what the title was of each guidance note and manual produced by his Department on using the Knowledge Network.

Angela Eagle: The guidance notes and manuals on the Knowledge Network Project are produced by the owners, and not by OGCbuying.solutions, therefore a list of the titles is not held.

Marriage: Islam

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 29 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1985W, on marriage: Islam, how many marriages have taken place in each of the 152 buildings in the last 10 years; how many of those weddings have taken place in the presence of  (a) a registrar of the registration district and  (b) an authorised person for that building; what criteria he applies in deciding on applications for authorised person status; and how many people have applied for authorised person status and have been refused in that period.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question pursuant to the Answer of 29th( )February 2008, Official Report, column 1985W, on marriage: Islam, how many marriages have taken place in each of the 152 buildings in the last 10 years; how many of those weddings have taken place in the presence of (a) a registrar of the registration district and (b) an authorised person for that building; what criteria he applies in deciding on applications for authorised person status; and how many people have applied for authorised person status and have been refused in that period. (192523)
	Information on the numbers of marriages in England and Wales is published in the annual reference volume Series FM2 Marriage, Divorce and Adoption Statistics, available from the House of Commons library. However, figures for the number of marriages by building are not readily available.
	Authorisation of a person to be present at the solemnisation of marriages in a registered building instead of a registrar are given by the trustees or governing body of the building. They may do so one year or more after the building has been registered by the Registrar General for the solemnisation of marriages. The criteria for authorisation are a matter for the trustees or governing body but the person must fulfil certain statutory obligations and duties in respect of the solemnisation and registration functions. The trustees or governing body certify on a prescribed form the name and address of the authorised person to the Registrar General and to the superintendent registrar of the registration district in which the building is situated. This is not an application and there are therefore no refusals. Information prior to 2005 is not readily available but in each of the last three years, the number of authorised persons certified to the Registrar General has been:
	2005. 1379, of which 1 was for a building registered for Muslim marriages
	2006. 1636, of which 7 were for buildings registered for Muslim marriages
	2007. 1057, of which 10 were for buildings registered for Muslim marriages

National Asset Register

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what domestic dwellings other than official ministerial residences are on the national asset register.

Yvette Cooper: The national asset register itemises all assets with a value over £1 million, including residential accommodation. Below this threshold, residential accommodation is included under the category of dwellings. The register is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_spending_ reporting/investment_procurement/psr_investment_nar_2007_index.cfm

Pay

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measure of inflation his Department recommends public authorities use to calculate pay rises for 2008-09.

Yvette Cooper: The Government's policy is that public sector pay settlements should reflect the individual labour market position of work forces, be consistent with achievement of the Government's CPI inflation target of 2 per cent., be affordable and represent value for money for taxpayers.

Population

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of the  (a) number of households and  (b) size of the population in each local billing authority in the UK.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question regarding the estimates of a) the number of households and b) the size of the population in each local authority in the United Kingdom. (192195).
	The latest household estimates available by local authority for England are for Mid-2004 and are provided by Communities and Local Government. For other countries within the United Kingdom, household estimates/projections are the responsibility of the relevant devolved administrations.
	The latest estimates/projections are available in the published tables linked below however, please be aware that these may not be on a consistent basis:
	England-1981-2004
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140987
	Scotland-1991-2006
	http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/stats/he-06-t1.xls
	Wales-2001-2004
	http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/40382313/statistics/housing-2006/sdr139-2006.pdf?lang=en-
	Northern Ireland-2001-2015
	http://three.ninet.org.uk/archive/demography/population/household/lgdtotals.xls
	The latest population estimates available for local authorities in the United Kingdom are for mid-2006. The mid-2004 estimates have also been included here in order to provide consistency with those household estimates provided for England. Links for these UK estimates are included below:
	Mid-2006 Population Estimates;
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D9666.xls
	Mid-2004 Population Estimates;
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D9672.xls

Public Expenditure Barnett Formula

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to publish the Statement of Funding Policy in relation to the Barnett Formula on an annual basis.

Yvette Cooper: The Statement of Funding Policy is updated and published in each spending review. The population figures used in the Barnett formula reflect the latest ONS population estimates and these are updated annually.

Retail Prices Index

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to recalculate the standard measure for the retail price index to take account of new spending patterns.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 march 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what plans there are to recalculate the standard measure for the retail price index to take account of new inflationary pressures. (192493)
	The RPI measures changes in the cost of a representative basket of goods and services. This involves weighting together aggregated prices for different categories of goods and services so that each takes its appropriate share within household budgets. The basket is fixed for a year at a time, but is reviewed every year to reflect changes in household expenditure patterns. A revised basket of goods will be incorporated into the RPI when the estimate for February is published on 18 March. Further information about the combination of goods and services used can be found on the ONS website at: www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/nojournal/CPI&RPI_basket_2007.pdf

Revenue and Customs: Dundee

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the City of Dundee by HM Revenue and Customs, and its predecessors, in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed in Dundee by HM Revenue and Customs (previously Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise) since 2000 is as follows.
	
		
			  As at 1 April:  FTE 
			 2000 259 
			 2001 257 
			 2002 234 
			 2003 737 
			 2004 872 
			 2005 853 
			 2006 855 
			 2007 857 
		
	
	Data before 2000 are not available.

Sandstorm Report

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 340W, on the Sandstorm report, what plans he has to publish the Sandstorm report;
	(2)  which  (a) individuals and  (b) governmental and non-governmental organisations have been provided access to part of the Sandstorm report.

Angela Eagle: There are no plans to publish the Sandstorm report. A decision will be reached shortly regarding the internal review of an FOI request for the report. Information is shared on a 'need to know' basis. The Sandstorm report has been made available to officials involved in a current FOI internal review only.

Smuggling: Tobacco

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been lost to the Exchequer as a result of tobacco smuggling in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: The most recent estimates of the revenue loss from tobacco smuggling are for 2005-06 and were published by HMRC in October 2007 in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2007".
	Estimates for 2006-07 will be published alongside the 2008 pre-Budget report.

Tax Credits Office

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the 1,350 new posts created in the tax credits office in 2006-07 have been filled; and how many of these new positions deal directly with  (a) applications for and  (b) overpayments of tax credits before 2006-07.

Jane Kennedy: Staffing numbers related to work on tax credits vary according to work load and season. In 2006-07, staff levels rose to 10,210, an increase of 1,370 on the previous year. Staff work flexibly in a number of different areas, including the tax credits helpline, tax credits office, compliance, and debt management.

Tax Credits: Applications

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what compensatory or interim payments may be made to claimants for tax credits when they  (a) encounter delays in deciding their claim,  (b) are querying an overpayment and  (c) are applying for a backdated claim.

Jane Kennedy: The circumstances in which HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will make compensation payments to its customers are explained in the Department's fact sheet, "Complaints and Putting Things Right", which is available at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/factsheets/complaints-factsheet.pdf
	Cash cheque payments are made manually, and are available in exceptional circumstances, to prevent hardship, or where a claimant is temporarily out of payment.
	HMRCs Code of Practice 26 "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?" explains the Department's approach to overpayments and is available at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk/leaflets/cop26.pdf
	A tax credits award can be backdated to a maximum of three months from the date of the claim providing eligibility requirements are met at the earlier date.

Tax Free Savings Schemes

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much potential revenue has been lost to the Exchequer arising from tax free savings schemes during the last recorded year.

Angela Eagle: The estimated cost of tax relief on tax free savings schemes, individual savings accounts and personal equity plans can be found in table 1.5 of HMRC's published National Statistics available at the following address:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/table1-5.pdf

Taxation: Bingo

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications of the European Court of Justice ruling, in Linneweber, for the tax treatment of licensed bingo; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: HM Revenue and Customs considers that the judgment has no implications for the tax treatment of bingo.

Taxation: Gambling

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will visit an amusement arcade on Canvey Island sea front in order to assess the effects of gaming duties on  (a) employment and  (b) Exchequer revenues; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers have no plans at present to make such a visit.

Taxation: Waste Management

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of landfill tax receipts in 2008-09; which environmental projects receive funds from landfill tax receipts; and which environmental projects he expects to do so in 2008-09.

Angela Eagle: Forecast landfill tax receipts for 2008-09 are published in table B8 of the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/F/9/pbr_csr07_annexb_ 305.pdf
	The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) enables landfill site operators to claim a landfill tax credit for contributions they make to enrolled environmental bodies (EBs) for spending on approved objects. The EBs are those enrolled by Entrust, the regulatory body for the LCF. Projects that are able to benefit from LCF funding include the reclaiming of land, improvements to local community facilities, repairs to places of worship, and habitat creation projects in support of biodiversity.
	Details of the enrolled EBs and registered projects are available on the Entrust website at:
	www.entrust.org.uk
	Which EBs and projects will receive funding in 2008-09 is a matter for site operators and EBs, within the confines and requirements of the fund.

Teachers: Suicide

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recorded suicides there were by members of the teaching profession in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many recorded suicides there have been by members of the teaching profession in each of the last 10 years. (192143)
	The attached table provides the number of deaths of persons recorded at death as teaching professionals (whether or not in employment at the time of death) where suicide was the underlying cause of death, in England and Wales in 1997 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death( 1) , teaching professionals( 2) , England and Wales 1997-2006( 3) 
			   Deaths (persons) 
			 1997 65 
			 1998 76 
			 1999 55 
			 2000 70 
			 2001 48 
			 2002 58 
			 2003 65 
			 2004 63 
			 2005 67 
			 2006 55 
			 (1)Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989, excluding E988.8 for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34, excluding Y33.9 (where the coroner's verdict was pending) for the years 2001 to 2006.  (2)'Teaching professionals' was defined using the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC90) codes 233, 234, 235 and 239 for the years 1997 to 2001, and the Standard Occupation Classification 2000 (SOC2000) codes 2314, 2315, 2316 and 2319 for the years 2001 to 2006. This definition includes secondary education teaching professionals, primary and nursery education teaching professionals, special needs education teaching professionals, and teaching professionals not elsewhere classified.  (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Congestion Charge: Greater London

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the London congestion charge is classified by the Office for National Statistics for statistical purposes.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 10 March 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to answer your recent Parliamentary Question on the classification of the congestion charge for statistical purposes. (192410)
	London congestion charge payments are classified as service payments for National Accounts purposes. The classification is in line with international statistical guidance on payments for using produced assets, road tolls and road charging.
	The decision on the classification of city charging schemes was taken by the National Accounts Classification Committee (NACC) prior to the introduction of the London charge in February 2003.

Valuation Office

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many digital photographs of domestic properties in England are stored by the Valuation Office Agency.

Jane Kennedy: As at 19 December 2007 the number of digital photographs of domestic properties stored by the Valuation Office Agency was:
	
		
			   Number 
			 England 1,311,115 
			 Wales 258,265

Valuation Office: Data Protection

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 23 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2099W, on the Valuation Office: data protection, what types of data are sent by  (a) fax,  (b) email and  (c) CD/DVD.

Jane Kennedy: Faxes are used to send ad hoc copies of general correspondence and data with a protective marking no higher than 'Protect'.
	General correspondence, performance monitoring reports and data with a protective marking no higher than 'Restricted' are sent by email.
	Encrypted core business data, where data sharing is permitted under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, including non-domestic rating list and summary valuation data are sent by CD/DVD.
	The Valuation Office Agency follows HMRC operating standards for the handling of data.

Valuation Office: Data Protection

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 23 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2099W, on the Valuation Office: data protection, in how many cases in the last 36 months a CD/DVD sent by post or courier has been lost.

Jane Kennedy: The Valuation Office Agency is not aware that it has lost any CD/DVDs sent by post or courier in the last 36 months.

VAT: Fraud

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was lost to the Exchequer from VAT carousel fraud in  (a) each of the last 12 months and  (b) in each of the last five years for which statistics are available.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC published annual estimates of the impact of MTIC fraud on VAT receipts for 2005-06 and 2006-07 alongside PBR 2007 in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2007", which is available from the House of Commons Library or from the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2007/mitl.pdf
	Annual estimates for the periods 2000-01 to 2004-05 were published in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2005", which is also available from the House of Commons Library or from the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2005/mitl2005.pdf
	While no monthly estimates are available for the revenue lost to the Treasury from MTIC fraud, monthly estimates of MTIC related trade are published by the ONS using overseas trade data supplied by HMRC and are available from their website:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/trd0208.pdf

Welfare Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the qualifying income level for tax credits is for  (a) a two-person single-earner household and  (b) a two-person single-earner household with (i) one, (ii) two and (iii) three children.

Jane Kennedy: Two-person single-earner families without children can benefit from working tax credit up to annual incomes of around £16,000. Two-person single-earner families with children can benefit from tax credits up to annual incomes of around £58,000 (£66,000 if there is at least one child who is less than a year old).

Welfare Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many  (a) individuals and  (b) households (i) were owing and (ii) owed arrears of (A) working tax credit and (B) child tax credit in each year since their inception;
	(2)  how many households with  (a) one individual,  (b) a lone parent with dependent children,  (c) a couple with no children and  (d) a couple with children (i) were owed and (ii) owed arrears of (A) working tax credit and (B) child tax credit in each year since their inception.

Jane Kennedy: Tax credit payments are made on a weekly, fortnightly and four-weekly basis. As a result, when comparing the tax credit entitlement to payments made, a family will by definition be paid in advance or arrears at any given time.

Welfare Tax Credits: Lancashire

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Morecambe and Lunesdale received working families tax credit in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Working families tax credit was replaced by child and working tax credits in April 2003.
	Estimates of the number of recipient families of working families tax credit in 2001-02, broken down by constituency, appear in the HMRC quarterly WFTC and DPTC Geographical Analyses. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/wftc/wfdptc_geog.htm
	Estimates for 2005-06 of the number of in-work families with tax credit awards, by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2005-06 are published in "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics Finalised Annual Awards 2005-06. Geographical Analysis." This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by constituency with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 2006-07 and 2007-08 are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many overpayment cases were identified for  (a) working tax credit and  (b) child tax credit in each financial year since their inception.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of awards with an overpayment of tax credits in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 is produced in the HMRC publications "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments in" for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm
	HMRC do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit overpayments were made to residents of  (a) Morecambe and Lunesdale,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) the UK in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: Estimates of the numbers of families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency, local authority and country, based on final family circumstances and incomes, for 2005-06, are available in the HMRC publication "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2005-06. Supplements on Payments in 2005-06. Geographical Analysis". This is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	Estimates for 2006-07 tax credit awards are due to be published in May 2008.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Tote

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards the sale of the Tote; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my written statement to the House on 5 March 2008,  Official Report, column 113WS.

Schools: Culture

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage access for school children to high quality creative and cultural experiences.

Margaret Hodge: On 13 February 2008 we announced a £25 million Find Your Talent programme of 10 pilots that will trial ways of offering children and young people a range of high quality cultural experiences for five hours a week, in and out of school.
	In addition to this we will invest a further £110 million to expand the successful Creative Partnerships programme over the next three years so that it works with more than 2,000 schools per year.

Sport: Children

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps he has taken to increase children's participation in sport; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DCMS and DCSF continue to work together to develop the plans to offer children and young people, aged five to 16 years, five hours of sport a week and three hours for young people aged 16 to 19 years from April 2008.
	We are currently working with governing bodies and school sport associations to improve their competition frameworks and we are also establishing a national network of Competition Managers to implement our plans at a local level.
	Additionally we are introducing a new National School Sport Week, championed by Dame Kelly Holmes, to encourage all schools to run sports days and tournaments. This will build on the success of the UK School Games and its impact on motivating young people to take part in competitive sport.

Sport: Children

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage school children to become more fit and active.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DCMS and DCSF continue to work together to develop the plans to offer children and young people, aged five to 16 years, five hours of sport a week and three hours for young people aged 16 to 19 years from April 2008.
	We are currently working with governing bodies and school sport associations to improve their competition frameworks and we are also establishing a national network of Competition Managers to implement our plans at a local level.
	Additionally we are introducing a new National School Sport Week, championed by Dame Kelly Holmes, to encourage all schools to run sports days and tournaments. This will build on the success of the UK School Games and its impact on motivating young people to take part in competitive sport.
	The DCSF and DCMS are also ensuring that children enjoy an active childhood by providing them with more opportunities for physically active play. To back up new investment announced in The Children's Plan, we will publish a new national strategy on play later this year.

Licensing Laws

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to bring forward amendments to the licensing laws; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The evaluation of the Licensing Act 2003, published on 4 March, reveals a mixed picture. Our main conclusion is that people are using the freedoms but people are not sufficiently using the considerable powers granted by the Act to tackle problems, and that there is a need to rebalance action towards enforcement and crack down on irresponsible behaviour.
	We have announced measures to address problems including better use of the powers in the Act, such as tough conditions or withdrawal of licences, but also introducing new initiatives to tackle alcohol related anti-social behaviour. We will consider how we will take these proposals forward once a summit of police and local authorities has been held.

Bingo Industry: Taxation

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury on the taxation regime for the bingo industry.

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury on the taxation regime for the bingo industry.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Treasury about a range of gambling issues.

Creative Britain Apprenticeships

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how his Department plans to ensure all children and young adults have access to Creative Britain apprenticeships.

Margaret Hodge: My Department is already working with employers, sector skills councils, trade associations, the Learning and Skills Council and other Government Departments to ensure the provision of high quality places.
	We will work with the new National Apprenticeship Service to expand opportunities for young people and adults in line with the recommendations of World-class Apprenticeships which are designed to encourage more employers to offer apprenticeships.

National Lottery

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the levels of unspent surpluses held by the national lottery distributors are.

Gerry Sutcliffe: At the end of January 2008 the National Lottery Distribution Fund balance stood at £1,695 million. That was 55 per cent. lower than July 1999 when the balance peaked. £100 million was held by the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund.

Video Games and Films: Classification

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will bring forward legislative proposals to strengthen the regime for classification of violent video games and films.

Margaret Hodge: The Prime Minister has asked Dr. Tanya Byron to carry out a review to assess the effectiveness and adequacy of the existing measures that help prevent children from being exposed to harmful or inappropriate material in video games and on the internet. We expect her final report later this month which may include recommendations for improvements or additional action. Once we have received the report, we will consider whether further action is necessary.

Art Works: Theft

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many spoliation compensation payments his Department made in each of the last 10 years and what the  (a) cause of compensation and  (b) value of each such payment was.

Margaret Hodge: Since the establishment of the Spoliation Advisory Panel in 2000, the Government have, on the recommendation of the panel, made two ex gratia payments to the families of those who lost works of art to the Nazis. In 2001, a payment of £125,000 was made to a claimant whose family had been forced to sell View of Hampton Court Palace by Jan Griffier the elder, during their flight from the Nazis in Belgium in 1940. The painting is in the collection of the Tate. In 2006, a payment of £175,000 was made in respect of four old master drawings, in the collection of the British Museum, which had been seized by the Gestapo in Czechoslovakia in 1939. All the panel's reports have been deposited in the Library of the House.

Art Works: Theft

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to bring forward legislation for the restitution of Nazi-era looted cultural property, following his Department's consultation on the issue.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 7 March 2008
	Having carefully considered the responses to the public consultation, my Department is now working to identify a suitable legislative vehicle with which to take this forward.

Arts Council of England: Expenditure

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by Arts Council England in the London Borough of Bexley in each of the last 10 years.

Margaret Hodge: The Arts Council has not regularly funded any organisation in Bexley in the last 10 years. They have however provided £1,109,487 in lottery funding, individual grants are as follows:
	
		
			   Recipient  £ 
			 1997-98 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 99,143 
			 1997-98 Goldsmiths Ballet Group 2,000 
			 1997-98 British Chinese Women Artists 5,000 
			 1997-98 Dartford Youth Choir 3,750 
			
			 1998-99 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 161,250 
			 1998-99 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 142,059 
			 1998-99 Bexley Council for Racial Equality 23,580 
			
			 1999-2000 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 57,381 
			 1999-2000 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 99,938 
			 1999-2000 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 99,938 
			 1999-2000 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 57,381 
			 1999-2000 Photolink 4,430 
			 1999-2000 Tactile Exhibition of Sculpture 2,065 
			
			 2000-01 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 102,936 
			 2000-01 Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts 59,102 
			 2000-01 Bexley Council for Racial Equality 20,000 
			 2000-01 Marie Martin School of Irish Dancing 4,225 
			
			 2001-02 Erith Town Forum 4,200 
			 2001-02 Dulverton Arts Week 5,000 
			
			 2002-03 Bexley Council for Racial Equality 29,285 
			
			 2004-05 Bexley Academy of Music and Performing Arts 6,677 
			
			 2005-06 Cine-UK Ltd. 48,750 
			
			 2006-07 London Borough of Bexley 71,397 
		
	
	The Arts Council have also provided grant in aid funds directly to support the following strategic initiatives.
	
		
			   Initiative  £ 
			 2003-04 to 2004-05 Development of a Thames Gateway Arts Strategy (includes Bexley) 67,500 
			 2006-07 Production of an arts strategy for the borough 20,000 
			 2007-08 Thames Gateway Dance Partnership (includes Bexley) 30,000

Bingo

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met bingo operators to discuss the state of the industry.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I met representatives of the Bingo Association, the main trade body for the sector, on 18 October 2007.
	Officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have regular meetings with the association.

Conferences

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was to his Department of hiring the Emirates Stadium for the first seminar of the Convergence Think Tank on 7 February.

Andy Burnham: The total cost of the first Convergence Think Tank seminar at the Emirates Stadium on 7 February 2008 was £13,13633. The cost was met by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which has joint responsibility for the Convergence Think Tank.

Conferences

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to post on his Department's website the papers submitted for the second seminar of the Convergence Think Tank held on 29 February.

Andy Burnham: The second seminar of the Convergence Think Tank will be held on 18 March. All papers submitted will be posted on the Think Tank website as soon as practicable after they are received.

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress his Department has made in its zero-based budget review under the comprehensive spending review.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to the Annex pertaining to my Department in "Meeting the aspirations of the British people: the 2007 Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review" (Cm 7227).
	Further details can be found in my Department's "Value for Money Delivery Agreement" available on our website, www.culture.gov.uk. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the House Libraries.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people over the age of 55 have been recruited by his Department in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: The information relating to how many people over the age of 55 have been recruited in each of the last three years by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is contained in the following table.
	
		
			   New entrants over 55 
			 2004-05 1 
			 2005-06 1 
			 2006-07 4

Departmental Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average percentage pay increase awarded to Civil Service staff at grade 6 equivalent and above in his Department was in each year from 2002 to 2007.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is in the table.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2002 5.7 
			 2003 4.5 
			 2004 3.6 
			 2005 4.1 
			 2006 3.3 
			 2007 2.7 
		
	
	The increase relates to the increase in base pay.

Departmental Plants

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on pot plants in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has spent the following on pot plants since October 2005. Information prior to this date is not available.
	
		
			   Amount (£) 
			 October 2005 to March 2006 8,217.01 
			 April 2006 to March 2007 22,078.31 
			 April 2007 to March 2008 24,064.88

Departmental Property

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many residential properties his Department owns; how many of these are vacant; and how many of these have been vacant for longer than  (a) three,  (b) six and  (c) 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department owns six residential properties. None of these are vacant.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the policy of British jobs for British workers will affect his Department's recruitment policy.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Recruitment to the civil service on the grounds of nationality is statutorily based. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) on 3 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 2206-207W.

Departmental Translation Services

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on translation services by his Department, associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05,  (c) 2005-06,  (d) 2006-07; and how much has been spent in 2007-08.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has spent the following on translation services:
	
		
			   Translation service  £ 
			 (a) 2003-04 No translations during this year. 0 
			
			 (b) 2004-05 Public appointments leaflet (Welsh) 100 
			  Review of the BBC's Royal Charter: A strong BBC, independent of government Green Paper and leaflet (Welsh) 6,995 
			  Licensing Act Guidelines publication (Welsh) 8,610 
			  Digital TV Guide publication (Welsh) 125 
			
			 (c) 2005-06 Licensing Act 2003—leaflet (Welsh, Turkish, Greek, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu, Chinese, Arabic and Kurdish) 850 
			  Licensing Act 2003—advertising in ethnic media 1,530 
			  A public service for all: the BBC in the digital age White Paper and leaflet (Welsh) 4,420 
			  Lottery Consultation publication (Welsh) 725 
			
			 (d) 2006-07 Welcome Legacy: Tourism strategy for the 2012 games—a consultation document and leaflet (Welsh) 2,945 
			  BBC Charter Agreement—publication (Welsh) 4,250 
			  Licensing Guidance document (Welsh) 8,370 
			
			 (e) To date in 2007-08 Our Promise for 2012 report and leaflet (Welsh) 2,074 
			  Winning: A tourism strategy for 2012 and beyond document and executive summary (Welsh) 4,550 
			  Regulatory Reform Order document (Welsh) 2,750 
		
	
	The DCMS's associated agency, the Royal Parks, have not translated any material during the periods listed.
	Costs for translation services provided by non-departmental bodies could be provided only at disproportionate cost

Departmental Travel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department and its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months for which figures are available, broken down by staff grade.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the departmental guidance Travel and Subsistence and the Ministerial Code, taking account of value for money principle.
	The Department does not analyse travel costs by modes or class of travel and the required information can be obtained only at disproportionate costs. The Department's agency, the Royal Parks, did not incur expenditure on travel by first class.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 323-4W, on digital switchover help scheme: finance, and following the appointment of Eaga as the preferred supplier, if he will place in the Library the report on the methodology and assumptions used to develop a model to estimate the costs of the help scheme; and provide the information requested in questions  (a) 184257,  (b) 184270,  (c) 184274 and  (d) 184468, tabled by the hon. Member for Bath on 18 February 2008.

Andy Burnham: I have am arranging to place in the Library of both Houses a report which sets out the methodology and assumptions used to develop a model to estimate the costs of the help scheme.

Eurostar

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department and its agencies spent on  (a) first and  (b) other class travel by Eurostar in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: All travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the departmental guidance on travel and subsistence and the Ministerial Code, taking account of value for money principle.
	The Departmental expenditure on travel by Eurostar in the past months (to January 2008) was £35,538. The Department's agency, the Royal Parks, had no expenditure on Eurostar.
	The travel costs are not desegregated by the class or mode of travel and the Department would incur disproportionate costs if it were to analyse them in the format requested.

Gambling: Licensing

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to his answer of 24 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2171W, on gambling licences, how many applications for premises licences were  (a) received,  (b) withdrawn,  (c) declined and  (d) revoked in each year since April 2005, broken down by region.

Gerry Sutcliffe: No regional breakdown is available for the information requested. Under the Gaming Act 1968 licensed operators were required to renew their gaming premises licence with the local licensing body each year. In addition, operators with a new certificate of consent from the Gambling Commission could apply for a new gaming premises licence.
	The following table shows the figures for new applications for bingo gaming premises licences to local licensing bodies but does not show details of any licences granted in respect of applications for extensions to, or substitutes for, existing premises. Local licensing bodies did not possess powers of revocation under the Gaming Act 1968.
	
		
			  Bingo applications  Received  Withdrawn  Declined 
			 1 April 2005 to March 31 2006 10 2 1 
			 1 April 2006 to March 31 2007 10 1 0 
			 1 April 2007 to March 1 2008 4 1 0 
		
	
	Not all of the equivalent figures for casino gaming premises licences under the Gaming Act 1968 were collated centrally but, between 1 April 2005 and 1 March 2008, 36 applications for additional casino gaming licences were granted by local licensing bodies under the Gaming Act 1968. This figure does not include details of any licences granted in respect of applications for extensions to, or substitutes for, existing premises.
	Between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006, the 13 additional casino gaming licences were granted in the following locations: Aberdeen, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Leeds, London (two), Nottingham, Reading, Stockton on Tees, Swansea, Warley (Oldbury).
	Between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007, the 14 additional casino gaming licences were granted in the following locations: Aberdeen, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow (three), Great Yarmouth, Kingston upon Hull, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Sheffield and Southend-on-Sea.
	Between 1 April 2007 and 1 March 2008, nine additional casino gaming licences were granted in the following locations: Bournemouth, Bradford, Edinburgh, Huddersfield, London, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield and Wolverhampton.
	Figures by region for premises licences under the 2005 Act, which came into effect on 1 September 2007, are not yet available. Licensing authorities are responsible for considering, issuing and revoking gambling premises licences under the 2005 Act. Not all authorities have completed their returns to the Gambling Commission, which will be publishing figures on the number of premises licences later in 2008.

Horse Racing

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on the future of horseracing; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government note the contribution of racecourses to local economies and would like to see British horseracing continue to flourish. Racing is at the heart of the sporting and cultural life of this country and the Government feel sure this will continue.
	Our view is that racing should be free to look after its own affairs, without unnecessary Government intervention. This is possible now that a robust licensing framework, overseen by the Gambling Commission, and a competent regulatory authority, the British Horseracing Authority, are in place.

Licensing: Alcoholic Drinks

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to regulate the number of special offers on alcohol made in shops and off-licences.

Gerry Sutcliffe: A key element of the Government renewed alcohol strategy Safe. Sensible. Social., published in June 2007, commissioned a detailed academic study to look at the evidence on the relation between alcohol price, promotion and harm. The results of this study will be published this summer and any new necessary action will be announced in due course.
	Where alcohol sales promotions at an individual premises can be shown to have a negative impact on the licensing objectives, it is possible to review the licence, and add appropriate conditions to restrict such promotions at that premises.

National Lottery: Finance

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding was granted by the National Lottery to schemes in  (a) England,  (b) Scotland,  (c) Wales and  (d) London in each financial year since 1997-98; and how much funding per head of population this represented in each such area in each year.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The figures for the total value of grants awarded during the financial years and the areas requested are set out in these tables. The population figures used are the mid-2006 estimates of the Office for National Statistics.
	
		
			  England population :  50,763,000 
			  £ 
			  Financial year  England  Per capita 
			 1997-98 1,163,450,037 22.91 
			 1998-99 934,456,531 18.41 
			 1999-2000 1,289,537,594 25.40 
			 2000-01 1,236,024,633 24.35 
			 2001-02 1,479,171,604 29.14 
			 2002-03 1,381,108,283 27.21 
			 2003-04 1,215,828,467 23.95 
			 2004-05 1,000,640,823 19.71 
			 2005-06 905,191,441 17.83 
			 2006-07 691,917,342 13.63 
			 2007 to date 871,967,982 17.18 
		
	
	
		
			  Scotland population :  5,116,900 
			  £ 
			  Financial year  Scotland  Per capita 
			 1997-98 167,921,533 32.82 
			 1998-99 110,345,558 21.56 
			 1999-2000 157,096,865 30.70 
			 2000-01 94,303,915 18.43 
			 2001-02 163,535,481 31.96 
			 2002-03 173,818,430 33.97 
			 2003-04 139,054,838 27.18 
			 2004-05 157,921,097 30.86 
			 2005-06 123,526,558 24.14 
			 2006-07 100,110,306 19.56 
			 2007 to date 97,670,401 19.08 
		
	
	
		
			  Wales population :  2,965,900 
			  £ 
			  Financial year  Wales  Per capita 
			 1997-98 98,247,270 33.13 
			 1998-99 52,827,424 17.81 
			 1999-2000 87,171,252 29.39 
			 2000-01 77,635,099 26.18 
			 2001-02 78,277,480 26.39 
			 2002-03 86,456,596 29.15 
			 2003-04 76,991,971 25.96 
			 2004-05 93,237,601 31.44 
			 2005-06 58,823,765 19.83 
			 2006-07 63,301,568 21.34 
			 2007 to date 44,855,291 15.12 
		
	
	
		
			  London population :  7,512,400 
			  £ 
			  Financial year  London  Per capita 
			 1997-98 315,881,923 42.05 
			 1998-99 339,108,851 45.14 
			 1999-2000 320,891,241 42.71 
			 2000-01 336,669,510 44.82 
			 2001-02 366,167,110 48.74 
			 2002-03 415,103,887 55.26 
			 2003-04 360,532,200 47.99 
			 2004-05 233,389,539 31.07 
			 2005-06 280,739,675 37.37 
			 2006-07 181,265,529 24.13 
			 2007 to date 176,992,643 23.56 
		
	
	The Department's Lottery Grants Database is searchable at:
	www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
	and uses information supplied by the lottery distributor.

Own Art Scheme

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Own Art scheme; how many outlets were participating in the scheme on the latest date for which figures are available; how many individuals have taken part in the scheme since its inception; and how much funding his Department provided for the scheme in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: Own Art is an Arts Council initiative. Through ArtCo Trading Ltd, the Own Art scheme has received £500,000 in 2005-06, £378,000 in 2006-07, and £366,000 in 2007-08, in grant funding. There are currently 230 Own Art member galleries in England. Since the launch in April 2004 to end January 2008, a total of 9,882 customers successfully applied for an Own Art loan.
	The last full evaluation of the scheme was published in May 2007 and reported on the 18 month period 1 October 2005 to 31 March 2007. 28 per cent. of the customer base described themselves as 'first time buyers'. 30 per cent. of Own Art customers were on income levels below the national average and 82 per cent. of customers said that the scheme had enabled them to make their purchase.
	A further evaluation report on the impact of the Own Art scheme on artists is due to be published at the end of March.

Playgrounds: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution  (a) his Department and  (b) the National Lottery made to the schools playgrounds scheme in each of the last five years; and what contributions he expects to be made in each of the next three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In April 2005 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, announced a £2 million investment to extend the Sporting Playgrounds programme which is also funded through the DCSF. This scheme refurbishes existing primary school playgrounds to enhance opportunities for sporting activity. Over 600 primary school playgrounds have been developed since the programme began in 2001.
	There are no plans for a Sporting Playgrounds programme over the next three years.
	The following table shows the total value of grants on the Department's Lottery Grants Database during the last five completed financial years, where the name of the project title or description is recorded as either "school playgrounds", "schools playgrounds" or "school playground". Lottery distributing bodies make grant decisions independently of the Government.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total grant value (£) 
			 2002-03 131,136 
			 2003-04 492,337 
			 2004-05 13,000 
			 2005-06 96,654 
			 2006-07 204,012 
		
	
	The Department's Lottery Grants Database is searchable at:
	www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
	and uses information supplied by the Lottery distributor.

Public Libraries: Closures

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the number of municipal public libraries which have closed since 1997-98.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) on 24 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2174W.

Regional Cultural Consortiums: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department provided to each of the regional cultural consortiums in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: My Department has provided the following funding to each of the regional cultural consortiums in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Regional cultural consortiums outturn 
			  £000 
			   Outturn  Plans 
			  Regional cultural consortium  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08( 1) 
			 Living East 180 209 233 215 226 
			   
			 Culture South East 205 209 224 215 226 
			   
			 Culture North East 197 210 221 215 219 
			   
			 Culture North West 208 209 223 215 226 
			   
			 Yorkshire Culture 208 209 221 215 226 
			   
			 Culture East Midlands 141 210 236 215 265 
			 Invest to save, creating cultural opportunity in sustainable communities — — — 203 285 
			   
			 Culture South West 206 209 222 215 226 
			   
			 Culture West Midlands 223 209 261 215 221 
			 (1) Following winter supplementary estimate.

Sport

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that members of the public are involved in developing strategies to encourage sport and physical recreation in their communities; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has been asked by the Secretary of State to develop a new strategy and business plan for the delivery of community sport in England. During January 2008, Sport England invited existing stakeholders to submit views to the organisation on its future direction and strategy. Once the headline strategy has been agreed by the Secretary of State, Sport England intends to conduct further consultation. This will include another round with stakeholders and an open consultation—for the standard three month period—on the proposed resulting changes to lottery grant application criteria. The consultation process will offer any member of the public or group the opportunity to comment on and influence the proposed changes.

Sportsgrounds

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that the owners of sports grounds that have not been used for regular sporting activities for a period of more than two years are required to bring them back into use; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will impose a charge on the owners of sports grounds that are not used for regular sporting activity for a period of more than two years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There is no power to either require owners of sports grounds to bring back into use grounds not used for regular sporting activities for a period of more than two years or to charge such owners if they are not so used. However, Sport England must be consulted if land has been used as a playing field in the five years before the making of a planning application. Planning guidance to local authorities is clear: no playing field needed by the community should be removed. In addition, Sport England object to all applications that would result in a loss of playing fields, unless there is a clear benefit to sport.

Swimming Pools

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) of 27 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1617-18W, on swimming pools, how many of the pools in each category in the table are or were in the  (a) public and  (b) private sector; and how many swimming pools there are in England.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Active Places database shows that there are currently 4,614 swimming pools in England.
	
		
			  Pools opened since 2004 by ownership type 
			   Total  Local authority  Commercial  Education  Other 
			 2004 117 17 73 25 2 
			 2005 93 18 57 16 2 
			 2006 87 20 55 11 1 
			 2007 57 19 22 14 2 
			 Total 354 74 207 66 7 
		
	
	
		
			  Pools closed since 2004 by ownership type 
			   Total  Local authority  Commercial  Education  Others 
			 2004 13 5 4 4 0 
			 2005 60 32 15 11 2 
			 2006 58 23 12 21 2 
			 2007 33 9 12 12 0 
			 Total 164 69 43 48 4

Swimming Pools

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what  (a) internationally recognised definition and  (b) definition used by Sport England is of (i) swimming pool and (i) diving pool.

Gerry Sutcliffe: For the purposes of collecting information for the Active Places database, Sport England's definitions are as follows:
	A swimming pool is an enclosed area of water, indoor or outdoor, specifically maintained for all forms of water based sport and recreation, for example, general swimming, teaching, training, diving, club and school use.
	Sport England defines a diving pool as being a separate pool specifically for diving which is usually square and deeper than the main pool.
	We understand from the Amateur Swimming Association, the national governing body for swimming and diving, that there are no internationally recognised definitions for the terms swimming pool or diving pool.

Swimming Pools

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many swimming pools listed on the Active Places website are co-located with one or more other pools on the list.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In November 2007, there were 4,614 swimming pools on 3,461 sites listed on the Active Places database. 921 of the sites have more than one swimming pool.

Take It Away Instrument Scheme

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on the Take It Away instrument scheme in each of the last three years; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the scheme in promoting learning a musical instrument; how many outlets were participating in the scheme on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many people have participated in the scheme since its inception.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 3 March 2008
	Take it Away is an Arts Council initiative and was launched as a national scheme in July 2007. Through ArtCo Trading Ltd, the Take it Away scheme has received £165,000 in 2006-07, and £625,000 in 2007-08, in grant funding.
	There are currently 91 member retailers across England. This is expected to increase to 250 from April/May 2008.
	For the first six months (July to December 2007) a total of 3,849 loans have been taken out by customers.
	The scheme is open to anyone but has the following target groups:
	Those buying an instrument for a child or young person under 18;
	Those buying an instrument for the first time (of any age);
	Those on lower than the average national income (£22,500).
	The first six month report shows that 82.72 per cent. of customers to date fall within at least one of the three priority groups: Over a quarter (29.8 per cent.) of instruments have been bought for a young person; almost half (46.03 per cent.) of all loans have been taken out by customers on incomes less than £22,500 per annum; and almost half (47.93 per cent.) of all loans have provided instruments for people who have classed themselves as a beginner or adult re-starter. 57.6 per cent. of customers fall into the socio-economic grade A, B and C1 and 42.4 per cent. fall into socio-economic grades C2, D and E collectively.
	The Arts Council's view is that it is too early at this stage to assess the longer term impact and effectiveness of the scheme in promoting the learning of musical instruments. However, the strong uptake in the first six months suggests that the scheme is having an impact in generating interest and engagement from a broad cross section of the community.

Irish Television Channel: UK

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions his Department has had with the Irish Government on establishing a dedicated Irish television channel for Irish people living in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: My right hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell) met with Eamon Ryan TD, the Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, on 22 January 2008, to discuss a number of issues. The subject of establishing a dedicated Irish television channel for broadcast in the UK was raised, but no firm decisions have been made.

Television: Advertising

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what restrictions are in place on the advertisement of  (a) alcohol,  (b) food high in fats, salt and sugar,  (c) gambling and  (d) 18 classified content on television (i) during programmes for children and young people, (ii) before the watershed and (iii) at all other times; what assessment he has made of the prevalence of these types of advertising during these times; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Under the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice rules, regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), strict controls are in place prohibiting the advertising of all these products in or adjacent to children's programmes.
	Foods high in fat, salt and sugar may not be advertised in or adjacent to programmes commissioned for, principally directed at or likely to appeal particularly to audiences below the age of 16. This prohibition is extended to audiences below the age of 18 for alcohol and gambling products. In addition to these rules, the gambling industry has drawn up a voluntary code for socially responsible advertising which includes a ban on all broadcast gambling advertising before the 9 pm watershed.
	Trailers for films or videos carrying an 18- or 15- certificate may not be advertised in or adjacent to programmes which are of particular appeal to children under 10. However, depending on the content and, in particular, the extent and nature of any portrayal of violence or sexual activity, an alternative timing restriction such as post 7.30 pm or post 9 pm may often be appropriate for such material.
	Advertising of all these products is permitted at other times with the exception of a specific restriction on the advertising of alcohol products in or between religious programmes.
	Both Government and Ofcom are committed to review the impact of the new rules on broadcast food promotion to children. The ASA has also recently carried out monitoring and compliance surveys for alcohol, food and drink and gambling advertising. In addition to this specific work, the ASA will be undertaking a review of all advertising codes during 2008.

JUSTICE

Administration of Justice: Fees and Charges

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether charges to newspapers to supply court lists to them reflect the cost of collating the information.

Maria Eagle: Statutory fee charges in HM Courts Service are set to recover full cost for the work undertaken by both administrative staff and judiciary. Photocopying fee charges are calculated by averaging out the time spent by admin staff when conducting any form of photocopying function requested by the court user. The magistrates courts are the only court that provides extracts of the court register (regarding criminal outcomes) for publication in a newspaper. The cost covers the time spent to undertake this duty.

Constituencies

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1109W, on constituencies, what the timetable is of the review of legislation on boundary rules.

Bridget Prentice: We are currently considering the arrangements for this review and will be making an announcement shortly. We estimate that, once it starts, the review should take about a year to complete.

Coroners: Armed Forces

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to exclude inquests relating to deaths in the course of military operations from use of the powers in the Counter-Terrorism Bill to appoint a specially appointed coroner.

Bridget Prentice: It is proposed that the provisions in the Counter-Terrorism Bill, which amend the Coroners Act 1988, will apply to all inquests. These provisions enable the Secretary of State to certify that an inquest will involve consideration of material that could not be disclosed publicly without damaging the public interest and this could include inquests relating to deaths arising from military operations. However, it is anticipated that these proposals will affect a very limited number of cases in exceptional circumstances, and they would have had no application to inquests already held into deaths arising from military operations as none have been held with juries. The proposals allow for an inquest to be held without a jury and for the appointment of a security vetted coroner who will only be appointed if the coroner who would ordinarily have jurisdiction is not among those who have received such clearance. These provisions will ensure that the small number of inquests which engage both article 2 of the ECHR and involve material that cannot be disclosed publicly can proceed.

Coroners: Armed Forces

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to exclude inquests relating to deaths caused by friendly fire from use of the powers in the Counter-Terrorism Bill to  (a) certify that a coroner's inquest be held without a jury and  (b) appoint a specially appointed coroner.

Bridget Prentice: It is proposed that the provisions in the Counter-Terrorism Bill, which amend the Coroners Act 1988, will apply to all inquests. These provisions enable the Secretary of State to certify that an inquest will involve consideration of material that could not be disclosed publicly without damaging the public interest and this could include inquests relating to deaths arising from friendly fire incidents. However, it is anticipated that these proposals will affect a very limited number of cases in exceptional circumstances, and they would have had no application to inquests already held into deaths arising from friendly fire incidents as none have been held with juries. The proposals allow for an inquest to be held without a jury and for the appointment of a security vetted coroner who will only be appointed if the coroner who would ordinarily have jurisdiction is not among those who have received such clearance. These provisions will ensure that the small number of inquests which engage both article 2 of the ECHR and involve material that cannot be disclosed publicly can proceed.

Departmental Consultants

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much was spent by the Department for Constitutional Affairs on  (a) consultants and  (b) agency staff in the financial years (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07;
	(2)  how many  (a) consultants and  (b) agency staff were employed by the Department for Constitutional Affairs at the end of the financial year 2004-05.

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent by his predecessor Department on  (a) consultants and  (b) agency staff in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07.

Maria Eagle: Expenditure and the number of contracts let with external consultants, in the years 2004 to 2007, were as follows:
	
		
			   Number of consultancy contracts let  Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2004-05 103 10.6 
			 2005-06 247 15.5 
			 2006-07 119 10.7 
		
	
	The Department has a national framework agreement for the provision of administrative, secretarial and clerical staff. Expenditure and average number of agency workers engaged via that framework, in the years 2004-07, were as follows:
	
		
			   Average number of agency workers  Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2004-05 395 8.7 
			 2005-06 722 10.5 
			 2006-07 600 8.08 
		
	
	Expenditure relating to workers engaged outside this framework, with other employment agencies, is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent by his Department and its agencies on  (a) alcohol and  (b) entertaining in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: It is not possible to list the amount spent on alcohol in the last 12 months without incurring disproportionate costs as it is not separately identifiable within the Department's accounts.
	Entertainment costs for the last financial year can be broken down as follows:
	
		
			   Entertainment costs (£) 
			 Former DCA 30,657.37 
			 HMCS 20,240.27 
			 Tribunals 1,653.70 
			 OCJR 35,156.29 
		
	
	NOMS, HMPS, and OPG cannot separately identify entertainment costs from their accounts. These costs may be identified only at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure on alcohol and hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety which is based on the principles set out in Government Accounting and supported by the Department's published internal guidance.
	All expenditure, including that on hospitality, has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people over the age of 55 have been recruited by his Department and its predecessors in each of the last three years.

Bridget Prentice: The requested figures are in the following table.
	
		
			  Ministry of Justice Agencies staff over 55 years of age, headcount over the past three financial years 
			  Headcount 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07( 3) 
			  Ministry of Justice Headquarters
			 Former Department for Constitutional Affairs (excl. agencies)(1) 10 10 12 
			 
			  Ministry of Justice Agencies
			 HM Courts Service(1) 110 170 118 
			 Office of the Public Guardian(1) 0 0 3 
			 Tribunals Service(1) 0 0 0 
			 Office of Criminal Justice Reform(1) 0 0 1 
			 National Offender Management Service(1) 0 9 3 
			 HM Prison Service(2) 340 270 270 
			 Ministry of Justice total 460 459 407 
			 (1 )Source: Annual Civil Service Employment Survey.  (2) Source: Personnel Corporate Database and Oracle HRMS.  (3) 2006-07 figures by age breakdown are from the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey where available. For those Departments and agencies who completed a departmental return and an age analysis from the Survey is not available, figures are derived from the Personnel Corporate Database.

Departmental Planning

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how the new planning management system in his Department will ensure efficient use of available resources.

David Hanson: There are no plans to introduce a new planning management system into prisons or probation areas.
	Announced on 8 January 2008, the newly revised and deliverable NOMIS Programme will, whilst continuing the successful roll-out of Prison NOMIS into all public prisons, ensure the urgent replacement of at-risk probation case management systems, and through the "Data Share" project allow staff involved in offender management access to core information held within custody and the community via a simple read-only data sharing mechanism. In addition, the programme will also improve the current separate prison and probation risk assessment systems, and re-develop them as a single national system.
	This agreed direction will enable improved business continuity by replacing ailing legacy case and risk assessment management systems. The programme will also enable more efficient and effective operational management of offenders in support of offender management, reducing re-offending and enhancing public protection. Both supplier neutral information to support commissioners and improved management information to enable improved performance will be more readily available as a result of the work being undertaken by the programme.

Departmental Reorganisation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much he expects to be saved as a result of the reorganisation of his Department as announced on 29 January; and how the savings will be used.

David Hanson: The Ministry of Justice is committed to deliver 5 per cent. real reductions per annum in administration budgets under the 2007 comprehensive spending review. The reorganisation will help the Department to deliver this challenge by removing duplication of functions and focusing the Department on its four key policy and delivery areas: Democracy, Constitution and Law; Access to Justice; NOMS delivery; and Criminal Justice and Offender Management Strategy. Further details are in the Department's Value for Money Delivery Agreement which was published on 18 February 2008.

Departmental Reorganisation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps are being taken through the reorganisation of his Department to remove duplication of responsibilities.

David Hanson: In the written ministerial statement of 29 January 2008,  Official Report, column 8WS, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor announced changes to the high level structure for the Department, which would allow a more joined up approach to issues of justice and constitutional reform and with a clearer focus on efficiency through the removal of duplication and overlapping responsibilities. Departmental officials are currently working on the detail of these changes before the top structure comes into effect on 1 April.

Departmental Reorganisation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consultations were held with trades unions and other stakeholders prior to the announcement on 29 January of the reorganisation of his Department.

Jack Straw: Ministers and officials maintain a regular dialogue with trade unions and a wide range of stakeholders. The re-organisation of the Department was announced first to Parliament, but officials met members of NAPO and the Prison Officers' Association during the progress of the review to update them on general progress, and discussions also took place on a number of occasions with the senior judiciary.

Elections: Fraud

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans his Department has to issue to a formal response to the opinion of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe on the application to initiate a monitoring procedure to investigate electoral fraud in the United Kingdom; and what response he has made to its recommendations on  (a) introducing individual electoral registration and  (b) checking 100 per cent. of personal identifiers on returned postal ballots.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have noted the Committee's findings, and that it has not recommended opening a monitoring procedure with respect to the United Kingdom. I understand that the opinion will now be considered by the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the Government will await the outcome of the Bureau's consideration of the opinion before deciding whether it would be appropriate to issue a formal response to the opinion.
	The Government's position on the particular issues highlighted by the hon. Member is as follows:
	 (a) The Government support the principle of individual registration but it has not been determined how it could be implemented without causing significant numbers of eligible people to fall off the register. We will wish to explore the issues involved with key stakeholders.
	 (b) I refer the hon. Member to the earlier answer on 8 January 2008,  Official Report, column 432W, which explained the Government's position on the checking of returned postal votes. The Government are committed to the principle that 100 per cent. of returned postal votes should be checked, and will wish to work with the Electoral Commission, electoral administrators and software suppliers in order to establish when it will be appropriate and safe to mandate 100 per cent. checking of returned postal votes.

Employment Tribunals

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to making the decisions of employment tribunals available free-of-charge on the internet.

Bridget Prentice: The Tribunals Service has decided to delay providing Employment Tribunal (ET) judgments on the internet until Caseflow (the computerised ET case management system) is developed and rolled out across the regional ET offices. Once installed, Caseflow will make it easier and more resource efficient to upload judgements automatically to the ET website. Caseflow will be piloted this autumn and national rollout will depend on the results of the pilot.

Financial Reporting Orders

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many financial reporting orders have been issued by courts.

Jack Straw: According to the statistical records reported by courts to the Ministry of Justice, there have been no financial reporting orders given as a primary disposal since they were introduced in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (2005).

Licensed Premises: Closures

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many closure notices were issued by police or licensing authorities when alcohol was found to have been sold other than under the condition of the licence in each of the years since the coming into force of section 19 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held centrally.

National Identity

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the cost has been to date of the consultation on the process of public engagement to develop a British statement of values;
	(2)  what external consultancy costs have been incurred to date in developing the process of public engagement to develop a British statement of values.

Jack Straw: No additional costs have been incurred for consultation on the process of public engagement.
	We have been working with consultants to support development of the process for public engagement on a British statement of values. This has been provided at a cost of £5,000.

National Identity

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has budgeted for the proposed Citizens' Summit on a British statement of values; and when this summit will take place.

Jack Straw: We are currently working in partnership with the Central Office of Information (COI) on the tender process for the Citizens' Summit, which will determine the budget. We expect the summit to take place by early 2009.

National Offender Management Service: Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many staff will be redeployed from the  (a) National Offender Management Service and  (b) Prison Service headquarters as a result of the changes announced on 29 January 2008 on his Department's reorganisation;
	(2)  how many staff will be employed in the merged HM Prison Service and the National Offender Management Service headquarters from 1 April 2008; and what the projected number is for 1 April 2009.

David Hanson: Staffing projections for 1 April 2008 to April 2009 are currently under way to produce more accurate projections that take into account the structural changes to the Department. We are currently planning how many staff will need to be redeployed in the new National Offender Management Service organisation, but any such activity will be consistent with the recommendations of Lord Carter of Coles' review of prisons in December 2007. Only top level management changes will come into effect on 1 April 2008, with more general staffing reorganisation expected some months from now.

National Offender Management Service: Manpower

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were employed in the headquarters of  (a) the National Offender Management Service and  (b) HM Prison Service at the latest date for which information is available.

Maria Eagle: The requested information is in the following table:
	
		
			   Full-time equivalents 
			   Number of people employed as at February 2008 
			 National Offender Management Service 1,623 
			 HM Prison Service(1) 1,293 
			 (1) Excludes area offices and the National Shared Service Centre.

Police Custody

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent on  (a) Operation Safeguard and  (b) the use of court cells by prisoners since May 1997.

Jack Straw: Police cells were used to hold prisoners regularly from 1982 until 1993 and from 1994 to 1995, and use peaked when more than 1,000 prisoners a night were being regularly held in police cells in 1988 and in 1990 to 1992 (based on end of month data).
	Since 1997, Operation Safeguard was used between July and December 2002, when an average of 83 prisoners a night were held in police cells, at a cost of £10.4 million. It was used again between 12 October 2006 and 22 December 2006 (an average of 22 prisoners a night in police cells) and from 16 January 2007 to date (the average for 2007 was 181 prisoners a night in police cells). Since October 2006 payments of £35.6 million have so far been made in respect of Operation Safeguard.
	Court cells were used between January and June 2007 and were used again in February this year to accommodate prisoners overnight. Invoices to the value of £1.73 million have been paid to date.

Police Custody

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost per night of housing a prisoner in a police station is.

Jack Straw: Police forces provide cells through Operation Safeguard and charge NOMS for doing so. The average estimated cost of holding a prisoner in a police cell under Operation Safeguard is currently in the region of £385 per night.

Powers of Entry: Debt Collection

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the timetable is for the commencement of the provisions of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 that relate to the powers of bailiffs to enter homes.

Maria Eagle: My Department remains committed to implementing the provisions relating to the power of bailiffs to enter homes contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007.
	A scoping exercise has now commenced to determine the development of these, and the results will inform the timetable for consultation and implementation. We expect this timetable to be written by May 2008.

Prison Accommodation

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were accommodated on 22 February in  (a) police cells,  (b) court cells,  (c) ClearSprings accommodation,  (d) cells with a certified normal capacity of (i) one and (ii) two fewer than the number of people they were holding,  (e) cells which do not form part of the prison's normal accommodation and  (f) any other form of temporary or emergency accommodation.

Jack Straw: On the night of 21-22 February there were 289 prisoners in police cells and 69 in court cells.
	ClearSprings accommodation is not for prisoners and no prisoners are held in it. Rather, it is for defendants who have been granted bail by the courts and who, but for that accommodation, would be remanded in custody. It is also for offenders nearing the end of their sentence released on home detention curfew and who also, but for that accommodation, would still be in prison. Prison Governors decide whether a prisoner who is eligible for HDC can be released.
	Information on the number of prisoners doubled in cells intended for one or trebled in cells intended for two on 22 February is not yet available. The most recent figures available are from the end of January when 20,055 prisoners were held in such cells. Data are provisional and final figures are published following the year end. Our records show that no prisoners are currently trebled in cells intended for one.
	An establishment's certified normal accommodation (CNA) does not normally include cells in punishment or segregation units. Nor does the CNA of training prisons and young offender institutions normally include health care cells or rooms that are not routinely used to accommodate long stay patients. The information regarding prisoners held in these types of accommodation is not recorded centrally.
	No prison is expected to operate at a level of crowding beyond that which the Prison Service area manager (or regional offender manager in the case of a contracted prison) considers safe.
	There are no other forms of temporary or emergency accommodation used for prisoners.

Prisoners: Rehabilitation

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what provision is made by each contracted-out prison for  (a) prisoner education,  (b) work placements,  (c) work in the community and  (d) programmes designed to provide prisoners with employment upon release from prison.

Maria Eagle: Information on prisoner education, work placements, work in the community and programmes designed to provide prisoners with employment upon release in each contracted prison is provided in the tables as follows.
	
		
			  Prisoner education 
			   Educational courses provided for prisoners 
			 Altcourse Prisoners have access to 15 hours of education per week plus 2 evening classes. This includes a range of activities that can lead to qualifications that support them upon release. This includes ESOL, IT, Literacy and Numeracy. 
			 Ashfield All prisoners have 24 hours of taught education per week and 1 hour informed education across a variety of areas. Classes include Art, IT, Life and Social Skills, Literacy, Music, Numeracy, PE. 
			 Bronzefield Six hours a day Education provision focusing primarily on Art, Basic Skills, ESOL, IT, Literacy, Numeracy. 
			 Doncaster Business Admin, ESOL, Industrial Cleaning, IT, Islamic Studies, Key Skills, Literacy, Numeracy, Pottery, Social Skills, Various sports programmes including BAWLA and Star Awards. 
			 Dovegate Business Studies, Ceramics, Circuit Training, ECDL, ESOL, Essential Skills, Family and Relationships, Get Fit for Life, IT, ITQ, Key Skills, Literacy, Numeracy, Open University, Social Life Skills 
			 Forest Bank Adult Basic Skills, Art, Budget and Money Management, Business Studies, Citizenship, Conflict Management, ESOL, Family Relations, Healthy Living, IT OCR, IT CLAIT, Literacy, Numeracy, Physical and Recreational Training Course, Skills for Life. 
			 Lowdham Grange Arabic, Community Sports Leader Award, Creative Writing, Diversity, Distance Learning, Drug Awareness ESOL, French, German, Interpersonal Skills, IT courses, Key Skills, Learning Support Assistant Training, Literacy, Numeracy, Older People in Sports, Open University, Spanish, Social and Life Skills, Sport and Recreation, Turkish, YMCA Fitness. 
			 Parc Art—Pottery /Painting and Drawing, Basic PC Course, Certificate in Peer Partnership, ICT—Clait, Clait+, Design and Creative Studies, Fine Art, Numeracy, YMCA Gym Course, Numeracy 
			  Qualifications offered exclusively on the Young Persons Unit: British Sign Language, Music. 
			 Peterborough ESOL, Literacy, Numeracy, Paper Craft, Physical Well Being, Reflexology 
			 Rye Hill Art, Basic skills in Numeracy and Literacy, Business Studies, Cookery, Drama, Distance Learning course, English, ESOL, Healthy Lifestyles, IT, Maths, Open University course. 
			 Wolds Accounts, Agility and Fitness, Art/Ceramics, Business Studies, Boxercise, BWLA Leaders, Citizenship, COSHH, CSLA, FA Football Coaching, FA Football Refereeing, Focus Fitness Instructor, Foundation in Speed, Foundation in Exercise and Fitness, Geography, Heartstart, History, IT ECDL, IT ECDL Advanced, IT CLAIT 2006, IT CLAIT Plus, IT Courses, Introduction to British Animals/Birds/Insects, Key Skills, Literacy, Numeracy, National Safety Passport, Open University, Parenting, Peer Tutoring, Social and Life Skills, Spanish, University Foundation Award Sociology (Hull University), University Foundation Award Psychology (Hull University) 
		
	
	
		
			  Work placement 
			   Prisoners placed with an employer for work experience 
			 Altcourse None 
			 Ashfield Work placements are provided via the ROTL process. All placements are risk assessed by the Health and Safety Officer and Resettlement or PE staff help to prepare a young person for release. These include Avon and Somerset Fire Service (office, catering, shadowing), Wessex Water (water works technician), Create Cafe, Frenchay Forestry, John Parsons Building Co. Riverside Youth Project (working with disengaged children), Community Sports Volunteers, Next Generation (Gym Assistant) 
			 Bronzefield None 
			 Doncaster None 
			 Dovegate None 
			 Forest Bank None 
			 Lowdham Grange None 
			 Parc Due to difficulties encountered because of the nature of the establishment, it is very difficult to satisfy Release On Temporary Licence requirements. Parc are committed to re-categorisation of prisoners and transferring them to open conditions as soon as is possible. Parc currently have three established work placements that have placed over 40 serving prisoners in the last 12 months in: 
			  A local community transport organisation. 
			  A community based youth centre. 
			  A local council. 
			  They are also committed to using serving prisoners to undertake essential building and maintenance work directly outside the prison grounds. This provides practical experience to enhance skills learned within the prison. 
			 Peterborough None 
			 Rye Hill None 
			 Wolds None 
		
	
	
		
			  Work in the community 
			   Voluntary work in the community 
			 Altcourse None 
			 Ashfield Avon and Somerset Fire Service, People's Charity/allotment project, Create Cafe, Warmley Park Special Needs school project, painting Rodford Way local primary School, painting Pucklechurch Primary School, Tree Planting Goblin Combe, Fairbridge, Prince's Trust, Duke of Edinburgh, Carmel Church, Volunteering at local sports events e.g. cross country runs, swimming galas 
			 Bronzefield None 
			 Doncaster As a core remand local, work in the community is limited. However, opportunities for community work via release on temporary licence (ROTL), include assisting the Environment Agency to clear local riverbeds and providing literacy support, advice and guidance at a centre for disadvantaged individuals including ex offenders. 
			 Dovegate None 
			 Forest Bank None 
			 Lowdham Grange None 
			 Parc Involvement in manufacture of replica stocks, refurbishment of a three hundred year old church and churchyard, education and training for prisoners in lime plastering to be used in refurbishing a 700 year-old town wall. 
			  Other projects the establishment is involved in: Local Boys and Girls Club—The establishment built and installed a refreshment area, which occupied three prisoners for eight months. Local Youth and Community Centre Climbing Wall—A number of prisoners were involved in the installation of a climbing wall in a local youth centre. This project will now continue with active participation from physical training instructors and suitably qualified prisoners from the establishment. Schools—The establishment is currently involved with three local schools. Football Club—The establishment is currently involved with the oldest football club in the Welsh League. 
			  Parc are currently evaluating nine local projects that have approached the establishment for help. 
			 Peterborough One prisoner has achieved a diploma in Holistic Therapies and is attending two voluntary positions on ROTL 
			 Rye Hill None 
			 Wolds None 
		
	
	
		
			  Programmes designed to provide prisoners with employment upon release from prison 
			   Programmes or accredited courses that are designed to provide prisoners with skills to find work on release 
			 Altcourse Engineering, Catering, Sports and Leisure, Mechanics, Bricklaying, Plastering, Joinery and Decorating. A partnership is in place with Railtrack—Network Rail, providing training that leads to employment in the railway industry. Job fairs have been run in the prison inviting employers to meet prisoners returning to the local area. These have led to opportunities for employment for some prisoners. 
			  Altcourse have links with agencies such as Job Centre Plus, Connexions and Working Links in order to assists offenders into employment and training. Offenders are given the opportunity to access temporary release from custody in order to attend interviews for jobs. 
			 Ashfield Duke of Edinburgh, Prince's Trust, The Sports Academy and Fire Skills course are all offered in Ashfield and help to prepare for Resettlement. There is a formal resettlement process which includes input from employers and guest speakers. All courses carry qualifications, which help the employment prospects for young people including Painting and Decorating, Carpentry, Motor Vehicles, Horticulture, Food Service, Construction, Design and Print, Industrial Cleaning, Laundry and Plumbing. Other programmes linked to resettlement include; Fork lift truck training, Wessex Water extended work placements, John Parsons Building. 
			 Bronzefield Kleaning Academy, Planned programme with major Gym Company to train prisoners using their staff training methods, Painting and Decorating Programme, proposed Call Centre giving Information Advice and Guidance (St. Giles Trust), Housing Advisor, Connections Workers 
			 Doncaster Accredited training is provided in Catering, Carpentry, Diagnostic Assessment, Food Hygiene, Motorcycles, Painting and Decorating. The Community Re-Entry Team interview 100 per cent. of prisoners for Housing Needs and provide a job club facility as well as one to one support in order to secure employment opportunities upon release. Local employers visit the prison to interview prisoners as does the Employment Development Manager who is responsible for regional networking in order to maximise employment and training opportunities for prisoners upon release. 
			 Dovegate A resettlement course is currently under development but not in place. Training is provided in Horticulture, Painting and Decorating, Plumbing, Electrical Installation, BICS Industrial Cleaning, Warehousing and Distribution, Performance and Manufacturing, Catering, Team Leadership, Careers and Management. 
			 Forest Bank Forklift Truck Course, Counter Balance Forklift Training, British Health and Safety Certificate, the Construction Skills Certificate, Manual Handling Course, Preparation for Work course, Food Preparation, Thinking Skills in the Workplace course, Manufacturing, Certificate in Health and Safety in the Work Place, Basic Electronics. Prisoners in the painting and decorating workshop have the opportunity to be employed through a construction scheme funded by work solutions. 
			 Lowdham Grange Contracts currently in operation providing prisoners with work skills are; Servicing NHS Wheelchairs, Electrical Contact Assembly, Electrical wiring/bulb reclamation, Catering hat manufacturing, Packaging of animal products, Re-packing jewellery, Manufacturing bedding and sheets, Warehousing and Distribution, Electrical cable assembly. 
			 Parc Prisoners are interviewed within twenty-four hours of entering custody to establish needs with regard to employment, training and education, housing and health and welfare issues. 
			  Market studies are also carried out to establish skill gaps and then provide the necessary practical focused training so that prisoners can target specific employment sectors upon release. 
			  Parc has partnership arrangements with Remploy, NACRO, Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind, Prince's Trust, ClearSprings, ESF, Welsh Assembly and NOMS. 
			  Training qualifications are provided in the following areas: BICS Industrial Cleaning, Train the Trainer and Assessor, Health and Safety, Manual Handling, Principles of COSHH, Food Safety in Catering, Basic Skills in Construction (Carpentry), Basic Skills in Construction (Painting and Decorating), Motor Vehicle Maintenance, Certificate in Horticultural Skills, Performing Manufacturing Operations, Performing Manufacturing Operations, Construction Industry Training Board Construction Skills Certificate Scheme. 
			  Qualifications offered exclusively on the Young Persons Unit: Certificate in Food Safety, Multi-Skilling (varied), Catering. 
			 Peterborough Kleaning Academy, Basic Food Hygiene, Manual Handling, Health and Safety, Bio-Hazard Training, Holistic Therapy Training, Beauty Therapy Training, Holistic and Beauty Therapy Delivery, Self Esteem Building, Yoga, Maintenance of Gardens and Grounds, Horticulture. The link centre also provides support for prisoners through their sentence and prepares them for release. 
			 Rye Hill Rye Hill currently do not run any programmes, but are in the process of setting up 'track works' which will provide prisoners with a 12 week training course in permanent way renewals. If prisoners are successful, they will be issued with a three year licence to work on railway maintenance. 
			 Wolds Institute of Professional Advertisers, Production of Glass Supporting Framework, Food Preparation and Cooking, Horticulture, Cleaning and Support Services, Track Laying and Maintenance, Library and Information, Electrical Installations 16(th) Edition, Introduction to work, Introduction to Self Employment, Manual Handling, Electrical Installations, Website Management, Database Integration and Management, Search Engine Optimisation Techniques, Online Marketing Techniques and Strategies, Content Provision (writing, researching and journalism), E-Business Consultancy, E-Customer Relationship Management. 
		
	
	Information has been provided by each individual contractor who manages the 11 contracted prisons as information is not held centrally.

Titan Prisons

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will publish the research which has been commissioned on the merits of Titan prisons;
	(2)  if he will publish the business case which led to the decision to open three Titan prisons in England.

Jack Straw: The Government have accepted Lord Carter's report 'Securing the Future: proposals for an efficient and sustainable use of custody in England and Wales', including the proposal that we should pursue the construction of up to three large 'Titan' prisons. Lord Carter consulted widely and his findings were set out in his report. We are now developing the more detailed case for Titans within our overall prison estate strategy and have already undertaken to use this as the basis for a public consultation exercise.

Public Bodies: Debt Collection

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance has been given to public authorities on the use of bailiffs to collect civil debts owed to public authorities by individuals.

Maria Eagle: In April 2002 the leaflet 'Effective Enforcement—National Standards for Enforcement Agents' was produced with the assistance of and endorsed by industry and Government, including local authorities. The guidance is not legally binding; rather it sets out what the Department, those in the industry and some major users including creditor groups regard as a benchmark for professional standards within enforcement.

Public General Acts: Administration of Justice

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Acts of Parliament which relate either wholly or partly to criminal justice and which have arisen from legislative proposals brought forward by his Department or its predecessors have been passed since May 1997; and which new criminal offences have been created by such legislation in the last five years.

Jack Straw: Table 1 lists Acts of Parliament that are currently wholly the responsibility of my Department or where my Department has a significant share. Table 2 lists such criminal offences created by these Acts in the last five years. I apologise to the right hon. Member for the delay in replying, but preparation of the answer has involved considerable work.
	 Table 1
	Access to Justice 1999
	Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007
	Courts Act 2003
	Crime and Disorder Act 1998
	Criminal Cases Review (Insanity) Act 1999
	Criminal Defence Service Act 2001
	Criminal Defence Service Act 2006
	Criminal Justice Act 2003
	Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000
	Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001
	Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
	Fraud Act 2006
	Legal Services Act 2007
	Magistrates' Courts Procedures Act 1998
	Offender Management Act 2007
	Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000
	Serious Crime Act 2007
	Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000
	Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Part 1 only)
	Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
	Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999
	 Table 2
	
		
			  Act of Parliament  Offence(s) created 
			 Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 Manslaughter by an organisation caused by gross failure of the organisation's management or organisation. 
			 Courts Act 2003 Assaulting or obstructing court security officers. 
			 Criminal Justice Act 2003 Reporting facts relating to appeals or re-trials in contravention of reporting restrictions or publishing facts which might prejudice a retrial in contravention of a court order. 
			 Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 Breaching a non-molestation order, and causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult. 
			 Fraud Act 2006 See Annex A. 
			 Legal Services Act 2007 Carrying on a reserved legal activity if not entitled, or through a person not entitled; and pretending to be entitled to carry out a reserved legal activity. 
			 Serious Crime Act 2007 Assisting and encouraging crime. 
			 Sexual Offences Act 2003 See Annex B, which covers the offences in Part 1 of the Act. 
			 Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 Unauthorised use or disclosure of debtor information. 
		
	
	 Annex A
	Fraud (s.1)
	Possession etc. of articles for use in frauds (s.6)
	Making or supplying articles for use in frauds (s.7)
	Participating in fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader etc.(s.9)
	Obtaining services dishonestly (s.11)
	 Annex B
	Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent (s.4)
	Causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity (s.10)
	Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child (s.11)
	Causing a child to watch a sexual act (s.12)
	Child sex offences committed by children or young persons (s.13)
	Arranging or facilitating commission of a child sex offence (s.14)
	Meeting a child following sexual grooming etc (s.15)
	Abuse of a position of trust: causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity (s.17)
	Abuse of a position of trust: sexual activity in the presence of a child (s.18)
	Abuse of a position of trust: causing a child to watch a sexual act (s.19)
	Inciting a child family member to engage in sexual activity (s.26)
	Causing or inciting a person with a mental disorder impeding choice, to engage in sexual activity (s.31)
	Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder impeding choice, (s.32)
	Causing or inciting a person with a mental disorder impeding choice, to watch a sexual act (s.33)
	Inducement, threat or deception to procure sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder (s.34)
	Causing a person with a mental disorder to engage in sexual activity by inducement, threat or deception (s.35)
	Engaging in sexual activity in the presence, procured by inducement, threat or deception of a person with a mental disorder (s.36)
	Causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act, by inducement, threat or deception (s.37)
	Care workers: causing or inciting sexual activity (s.39)
	Care workers: sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder (s.40)
	Care workers: causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act (s.41)
	Trafficking into the UK for sexual exploitation (s.57)
	Trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation (s.58)
	Trafficking out of the UK for sexual exploitation (s.59)
	Sexual penetration of a corpse (s.70)
	Sexual activity in a public lavatory (s.71)

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many funding agreements for academy schools were signed in each month since June 2005.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has approved 68 academies funding agreements since June 2005. The names of the academies, the phase they have reached and the date that the funding agreement was signed are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Academy name  Local authority  Phase name  Date FA signed 
			 North Liverpool Academy Liverpool Open June 2005 
			 Oasis Academy Enfield Enfield Open June 2005 
			 The Bridge Academy Hackney Open June 2005 
			 Bradford Academy Bradford Open August 2005 
			 Macmillan Academy Middlesbrough Open August 2005 
			 Folkestone Academy Kent Open September 2005 
			 Barnsley Academy Barnsley Open October 2005 
			 The St. Matthew Academy Lewisham Open November 2005 
			 Walthamstow Academy Waltham Forest Open January 2006 
			 Sheffield Park Sheffield Open February 2006 
			 Langley Academy Slough Implementation February 2006 
			 Sheffield Springs Sheffield Open April 2006 
			 Saint Mary Magdalene Academy Islington Open April 2006 
			 The Corby Business Academy Northamptonshire Implementation May 2006 
			 Merchants' Academy Withywood Bristol Implementation July 2006 
			 The Harris Bermondsey Academy Southwark Open July 2006 
			 St. Mark's CofE Merton Open July 2006 
			 Leigh Technology Academy Kent Open July 2006 
			 Harris Academy Merton Merton Open July 20 
			 Harris Girls Academy East Dulwich Southwark Open July 2006 
			 Stockport Academy Stockport Open August 2006 
			 Excelsior Academy Newcastle Implementation August 2006 
			 Landau Forte College Derby Open August 2006 
			 Burlington Danes Academy Hammersmith and Fulham Open August 2006 
			 Gateway Academy Thurrock Open August 2006 
			 Oasis Academy Wintringham North East Lincs Open December 2006 
			 Oasis Academy Immingham North East Lincs Open December 2006 
			 Ashcroft Technology Academy Wandsworth Open December 2006 
			 The Belvedere Academy Liverpool Open February 2007 
			 William Hulme's Grammar School Manchester Open February 2007 
			 Madeley Academy Telford and Wrekin Open March 2007 
			 The Chelsea Science Academy Kensington and Chelsea Implementation March 2007 
			 King Solomon Academy Westminster Open May 2007 
			 Barnfield South Academy Luton Open May 2007 
			 Barnfield West Academy Luton Open May 2007 
			 Spires Academy Kent Open May 2007 
			 Grace Academy Coventry Implementation June 2007 
			 Eastbourne Church of England Academy Darlington Open June 2007 
			 John Cabot Academy South Gloucestershire Open June 2007 
			 Q3 Academy Sandwell Implementation June 2007 
			 St. Anne's Academy Rochdale Open June 2007 
			 Havelock Academy North East Lincs Open July 2007 
			 St. Michael and All Angels CofE Southwark Open July 2007 
			 Marsh Academy Kent Open July 2007 
			 Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Implementation July 2007 
			 North Oxfordshire Academy Oxfordshire Open July 2007 
			 Evelyn Grace Academy Lambeth Implementation July 2007 
			 Swindon Academy Swindon Open July 2007 
			 George Salter Collegiate Academy Sandwell Open August 2007 
			 Shireland Collegiate Academy Sandwell Open August 2007 
			 Pennywell/Quarry View Academy Sunderland Implementation August 2007 
			 Castle View Enterprise Academy Sunderland Implementation Aug 07 
			 Red House Academy Sunderland Implementation August 2007 
			 Brooke Weston Academy Northamptonshire Implementation August 2007 
			 The Bristol Brunel Academy Bristol Open August 2007 
			 Harris City Academy, Crystal Palace Croydon Open August 2007 
			 Bacon's, A Church of England Sponsored Academy Southwark Open August 2007 
			 New Line Learning Academy, South Maidstone Federation Kent Open August 2007 
			 Cornwallis (name TBC) South Maidstone Federation Kent Open August 2007 
			 Walworth Academy Southwark Open August 2007 
			 Nottingham Bulwell Academy Nottingham Implementation August 2007 
			 The Globe Academy Southwark Implementation November 2007 
			 New Charter Academy Tameside Implementation November 2007 
			 Nottingham University Samworth Academy Nottingham Implementation November 2007 
			 The Samworth Church Academy Nottinghamshire Implementation November 2007 
			 Oasis Academy Hengrove Bristol Implementation November 2007 
			 Bede Academy Northumberland Implementation December 2007 
			 The RSA Academy, Tipton Sandwell Implementation January 2008

Academies: Finance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much capital funding each academy school has received from Partnerships for Schools since January 2006.

Jim Knight: Academies receive capital funding determined by Partnerships for Schools in accordance with the agreed phasing of milestone payments during the construction of the school, and following the award of the contract. To date, no contracts have been awarded by academies to be delivered under the Partnerships for Schools national framework. Some payments, from the total funding allocation for the project, have already been made to local authorities to support the development of the academy project. These and the award of PFI Credits for a Building Schools for the Future academy which opened in September 2007 are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Local authority  Academy/ies  Capital grant payments made (£000) 
			 Brent Stadium Academy 300 
			 Brighton and Hove New Academy 233 
			 Bristol Colston's Girls Academy 252 
			 Darlington Eastbourne Academy 262 
			 Essex Chalvedon/Barstable Academies 400 
			 Hackney Hackney Skinners Academy 400 
			 Herefordshire Hereford Academy 250 
			 Kent Cornwallis/New Line Learning Academies 1,500 
			 Lancashire Accrington Moorhead Academy 160 
			 Lincolnshire The Priory LSST, Priory Witham and Priory City of Lincoln Academies 400 
			 Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Academy 300 
			 Norfolk The Open Academy 250 
			 North East Lincolnshire Havelock Academy 312 
			 Oxfordshire The Oxford Academy 300 
			 Rochdale St. Anne's Academy 265 
			 Southwark Walworth Academy 250 
			 Total  5,834 
		
	
	
		
			  Local authority  Academy  PFI credits allocations made (£000) 
			 Bristol Brunel Academy 35,272 
		
	
	In addition; up to the end of February 2008; the Department has invested some £1.4 billion in traditionally procured academies.

Apprentices

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many apprenticeship placements are planned in each year to 2010, broken down by parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The following table shows projected numbers of people starting apprenticeships from 2007-08 through to the end of the current comprehensive spending review period in 2010-11, broken down by age.
	
		
			  Proposed apprenticeship starts  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 16 to 18 106,000 108,000 116,000 122,000 
			 19 to 24 68,000 77,000 85,000 75,000 
			 25+ 8,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 
			 Total starts 183,000 195,000 211,000 207,000 
		
	
	Figures broken down by parliamentary constituency are not available.
	Over the past decade we have more than doubled the number of young people and adults starting apprenticeships. Over the period to 2020 we project that apprenticeship starts will increase to over 250,000 per year. As we grow the programme, taking up an apprenticeship may become attractive to even more young people. We will maintain our commitment to meeting the demand from suitably qualified young people, so that if more come forward we will work with employers to expand further. On this basis, we anticipate that around one in five of all young people will be undertaking an apprenticeship within the next decade.

Apprentices

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many (a) 16 and (b) 17 year olds in apprenticeships had A*-C GCSEs in mathematics, English, a science and a modern language in each year for which data are available;
	(2)  how many  (a) 16 and  (b) 17 year olds in apprenticeships had A*-C GCSEs in mathematics, English and a science in each year for which data are available;
	(3)  how many  (a) 16 and  (b) 17 year olds in apprenticeships had an A*-C GCSE in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) English and mathematics in each year for which data are available.

Jim Knight: A combined response to PQs 192042, 192043 and 192044 is presented here due to the similarity of the questions and data availability. The following figures are from matched administrative data which link together participation and attainment data at an individual level from several administrative data sources. The table shows participation in apprenticeships by achievement of GGSE (or equivalent) in English and mathematics at grades A* to C. We do not have data for modern languages or science. Figures relate to England only.
	
		
			  GCSE  Percentage GCSE 
			  Cohort  Academic age  Main study aim  Total participating  English A*-C  Maths A*-C  English and Maths A*-C  English A*-C  Maths A*-C  English and Maths A*-C 
			 19 in 2007 16 Apprenticeship 28,862 8,240 5,934 4,027 28.5 20.6 14.0 
			  16 Advanced Apprenticeship 4,468 1,921 1,977 1,351 43.0 44.2 30.2 
			  17 Apprenticeship 40,651 12,510 9,242 6,414 30.8 22.7 15.8 
			  17 Advanced Apprenticeship 9,089 4,478 4,250 3,126 49.3 46.8 34.4 
			   
			 19 in 2008 16 Apprenticeship 28,699 8,583 6,787 4,551 29.9 23.6 15.9 
			  16 Advanced Apprenticeship 2,898 1,632 1,692 1,289 56,3 58.4 44.5 
			  17 Apprenticeship 41,407 13,192 10,562 7,162 31.9 25.5 17.3 
			  17 Advanced Apprenticeship 7,003 4,224 4,088 3,251 60.3 58.4 46.4 
			  Note: The participation data have coverage limitations in the dataset, and information is not available for certain groups of learners, such as those in independent schools and higher education institutes (although we do have their attainment data). They are not used for published participation statistics, but can be used for indicative purposes (albeit with caveats applied on coverage). Figures for the '19 in 2008 cohort' refer to those learners who turn 19 in 2007/08. This is the latest cohort of learners in the matched dataset for whom we have data for 16 and 17-year-olds (academic ages, from 2005/06 and 2006/07, respectively). Participation in the matched administrative dataset is limited to the cohorts shown above.

Assessments: Administration

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many completed examination papers at  (a) Key Stage 3,  (b) GCSE and  (c) A-level were lost in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: For Key Stage 3 Papers, the figures requested are as follows:
	
		
			  Exam series  Key Stage 3 
			   Papers lost  Percentage of all papers  Total number of papers 
			 2003 3,762 0.078 4,832,076 
			 2004 5,539 0.115 3,692,666 
			 2005 792 0.017 4,658,883 
			 2006 2,133 0.044 4,847,727 
			 2007 1,521 0.032 4,753,125 
		
	
	For GGSE and A-level, until 2004 completed examination papers were sent by schools and colleges for marking using the postal system. No exact figures are available, but the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) estimate that an average of 6,000 papers a year were lost. In 2004, through the exams modernisation programme, a courier service was introduced across England to collect completed papers from schools and colleges. The number of papers lost through this service each year is as follows. There are arrangements in place to ensure that candidates whose papers are lost are not disadvantaged.
	
		
			  Exam series  General Qualifications (GQs) 
			   Papers lost  Percentage of all papers  Total number of papers 
			 2003 (1)6,000 n/a n/a 
			 2004(2) 9 n/a n/a 
			 2005 1,871 0.009 20,788,888 
			 2006 1,343 0.006 22,383,333 
			 2007 2,202 0.01 22,020,000 
			 (1 )On average. (2 )November pilot for GQs.

Assessments: Maladministration

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many cases of maladministration in respect of Key Stage  (a) 2 and  (b) 3 tests were investigated by the National Assessment Agency in each year since 2000-01; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is statutorily obliged to investigate any matter brought to its attention relating to the accuracy or correctness of the results of any pupil in respect of the key stage 2 and key stage 3 national curriculum tests. Such matters are referred to as allegations of maladministration. The term 'maladministration' refers to any act, accidental or intentional, that could jeopardise the integrity, security of confidentiality of the tests. For example, the opening of test papers at the wrong time by accident would lead to an investigation.
	Investigations are carried out by the National Assessment Agency (NAA), part of the QCA. The NAA's remit in investigating cases of alleged maladministration is to determine whether there is doubt over the correctness or accuracy of pupil results. The sanction applied where a case of maladministration is proven is the annulment or change of results for individual pupils or for the whole school.
	Numbers of maladministration cases investigated by the NAA in each year from 2001-02 to 2007-08 for key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests are provided in the following table. As maladministration data were not collected until 2001, information for 2000-01 is not provided.
	
		
			   Key stage 2  Key stage 3 
			 2000-01 No data available  
			 2001-02 152 91 
			 2002-03 282 176 
			 2003-04 229 164 
			 2004-05 325 240 
			 2005-06 339 256 
			 2006-07 321 251 
			 2007-08 280 246 
		
	
	The total cohort is approximately 600,000 pupils at the end of each key stage who take the tests each year.
	The information contained in the table was provided by the QCA.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what schools are under construction through the Building Schools for the Future programme in each local authority area.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the schools which have started construction under the Building Schools for the Future programme in each local authority area:
	
		
			  School  Local authority  Parliamentary constituency 
			 Salt Bradford Shipley 
			 Tong Bradford Bradford South 
			 Buttershaw Bradford Bradford South 
			 Whitefield Bristol Bristol East 
			 Brislington Bristol Bristol East 
			 Hartcliffe Bristol Bristol South 
			 Durham Johnston Durham Durham 
			 Ilfield SEN Kent Gravesham 
			 St. Edmund Canterbury Knowsley Knowsley South 
			 Halewood Knowsley Knowsley South 
			 Prescott Knowsley Knowsley South 
			 Elm Court SEN Lambeth Dulwich and West Norwood 
			 Park Campus PRU Lambeth Streatham 
			 Shuttleworth Lancashire Burnley 
			 Burnley Sixth Form Lancashire Burnley 
			 Pendle Vale Lancashire Pendle 
			 Pendle Vale SEN Lancashire Pendle 
			 Sir John Thursby Lancashire Burnley 
			 Ridgewood Community High SEN Lancashire Burnley 
			 Allerton High Leeds Leeds North East 
			 Cockburn Leeds Leeds Central 
			 Pudsey Grangefield Leeds Pudsey 
			 Rodillian Leeds Morley and Rothwell 
			 Temple Moor High Leeds Leeds East 
			 Allerton Grange Leeds Leeds North East 
			 Beaumont Leys Leicester Leicester West 
			 Fullhurst Leicester Leicester West 
			 Judgemeadow Leicester Leicester East 
			 Soar Valley Leicester Leicester East 
			 Sedgehill Lewisham Lewisham West 
			 Catford Lewisham Lewisham East 
			 Melland SEN Manchester Manchester Gorton 
			 Cedar Mount Manchester Manchester Gorton 
			 Newall Green Manchester Wythenshawe and Sale East 
			 St. Pauls Manchester Wythenshawe and Sale East 
			 Piper Hill SEN Manchester Wythenshawe and Sale East 
			 Our Lady's Manchester Manchester Blackley 
			 St. Matthew's Manchester Manchester Blackley 
			 Meade Hill SEN Manchester Manchester Blackley 
			 Northridge High Manchester Manchester Blackley 
			 Walbottle Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne North 
			 Kenton Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne North 
			 Thomas Bewick SEN Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne North 
			 Benfield Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne and Wallsend 
			 Newfield Sheffield Sheffield Heeley 
			 Silverdale Sheffield Sheffield Hallam 
			 Talbot SEN Sheffield Sheffield Heeley 
			 Yewlands Sheffield Sheffield Brightside 
			 Lanchester SEN Solihull Meriden 
			 Park Hall Solihull Meriden 
			 The Archbishop Grimshaw Solihull Meriden 
			 Smith's Wood Solihull Meriden 
			 Frederick Bremer Waltham Forest Walthamstow 
			 Kelmscott Waltham Forest Walthamstow

Children: Asylum

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what sources of funding are available for the provision of English language and life skills to unaccompanied minors who are seeking asylum  (a) up to the age of 16 years and  (b) after they are 18-years-old; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: All unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) of compulsory school age receive the same educational entitlement as citizen children. All unaccompanied minors are cared for by the local authorities and therefore have the same entitlement as all looked-after children. Unaccompanied asylum seekers aged 16-18 are eligible for courses funded by the Learning and Skills Council. Asylum seekers who have not received a decision on their application after six months and are aged 19 and over are eligible for English for speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). This also applies to asylum seekers who are unable to leave the country for reasons beyond their control.
	My Department provides funding to local authorities to support provision for those for whom English is an additional language (EAL) and pupils from minority ethnic groups at risk of underachieving through:
	a substantial provision for EAL through the ring fenced Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG), which has risen from £162 million in 2004-05 to £179 million in 2007-08 and will rise to £208 million by 2010-11, a 9 per cent. increase on the 2004-05 level;
	an element within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for primary schools which was some £256 million in 2004-05, rising to £299 million in 2007-08, with a further rise to over £330 million in 2010-11, an 11 per cent. real terms increase on the 2004-05 level;
	an Exceptional Circumstances Grant (ECG) which has been introduced to reflect changes in local authorities' pupil numbers which occur after the three year indicative allocations of DSG have been announced.

Children: Protection

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made on his Department's proposals to replace Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution with broader guidance aimed at safeguarding children from sexual exploitation, including those who have been groomed over the internet; and when he expects to publish this new guidance.

Kevin Brennan: The Government have been discussing with key organisations with expertise in this area how the guidance on Safeguarding Children Involved in Prostitution can be updated and expanded to help local agencies safeguard children from sexual exploitation more generally. We have commissioned ease study research examining how local areas currently tackle this issue, which will also help to ensure the guidance is informed by effective current practice. We plan to publish a draft for consultation before the summer.

Class Sizes: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what the average pupil:teacher ratio was in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in Eastbourne constituency in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of teaching assistants who left posts in Eastbourne constituency in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the pupil:teacher ratio in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in Eastbourne constituency and England in each January, 2003 to 2007.
	Information on the number of teaching assistants who left their posts each year is not collected centrally. Figures from the School Census shows that there were 230 teaching assistants in service in Eastbourne constituency in January 2003 and there were 250 in January 2007.
	The new School Workforce Census, which is expected to be in place in 2010, will provide more detailed information on the inflow and outflow of teaching assistants.
	
		
			  Pupil:teacher ratios in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools, years: January 2003 to 2007—coverage: Eastbourne constituency and England 
			   Eastbourne constituency  England 
			  January  Primary  Secondary  Primary  Secondary 
			 2003 22.0 16.9 22.6 17.0 
			 2004 22.6 17.5 227 17.0 
			 2005 22.6 17.8 22.5 16.7 
			 2006 23.2 17.8 22.0 16.6 
			 2007 23.6 18.0 21.8 16.5 
			  Source:  School Census

Class Sizes: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average class size was in City of York local education authority schools for  (a) infant,  (b) junior and  (c) secondary pupils in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information for key stage 1, key stage 2 and secondary school class sizes is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Average class size: York local authority, 1997 and 2007 (January each year) 
			   1997  2007 
			 Key stage1(1) 26.3 25.1 
			 Key stage 2(1) 28.9 27.2 
			 Secondary(1) 21.6 20.7 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.  Source: School Census

Departmental ICT

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the  (a) start date,  (b) original planned completion date,  (c) current expected completion date,  (d) planned cost and  (e) current estimated cost is for each information technology project being undertaken by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Children Schools and Families. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal and external information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.

Departmental Private Finance Initiative

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what private finance initiative projects were approved by his Department in each of the last three financial years; and what the  (a) value and  (b) start date was of each.

Jim Knight: The capital value and start date for every signed PFI project is recorded centrally on the Treasury's website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_ partnerships/ppp_pfi_stats.cfm.
	If the hon. Member requires any further information, he should contact Phil Batchelor at 020 7270 4496 or phil.batchelor@hm-treasury.x.gsi,gov.uk.

Education: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent on examination fees by schools in each year since 2002.

Jim Knight: The information in the following table covers the costs incurred by all local authority maintained primary, secondary and special schools, for test administration and examination entry fees and any accreditation costs related to pupils taking GCSEs, GNVQs, AS and A2 qualifications. There are no fees for national curriculum tests for maintained schools.
	
		
			  Academic year  Amount (£ million) 
			 2002-03 156 
			 2003-04 174 
			 2004-05 198 
			 2005-06 220 
			 2006-07 240 
			  Source: http://www.dfes/gov.uk/localauthorities/section52 (Budget Data Archive-Summary Level) 
		
	
	The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) carried out a review of the fees for GCSEs and A levels in 2006. The QCA and its fellow regulators are currently preparing a report on the fees for the revised A levels that are to be introduced in schools and colleges in September 2008. The report will be published in the spring of 2008. The QCA is also setting in hand a study of the efficiency of the examinations system.

Education: Expenditure

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what comparisons he routinely makes between a council's education gross expenditure and the same council's original budget unpublished/computerised in the CedAr system for education and regeneration; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what allowances are routinely made for a council that records its additional gross expenditure on schools but not its additional gross income; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not make such comparisons, or allowances.

Education: Standards

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) infant,  (b) junior,  (c) primary,  (d) secondary and  (e) special schools have been awarded ratings of (i) outstanding, (ii) good, (iii) satisfactory and (iv) inadequate following an inspection by Ofsted in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.

Foundation Schools

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools  (a) applied for and  (b) received foundation status in each year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The following table sets out the number of proposals by schools, to change category to foundation, that the Department has been informed have been published since 2001, and how many have been approved.
	
		
			   Published  Approved 
			 2001 16 15 
			 2002 12 11 
			 2003 6 6 
			 2004 4 3 
			 2005 11 11 
			 2006 40 40 
			 2007 62 62 
			 2008 2 2 
		
	
	In addition to the aforementioned, a further 37 schools have published proposals to change category to foundation (since November 2007), but the proposals have not yet been decided.
	Where a school governing body wishes to change category to foundation, they must follow a statutory process. The current process involves five stages: consultation (with prescribed parties); publication (of a statutory notice in a local newspaper, at the entrance to the school and in a local conspicuous place); representations (allowing four weeks for comments and objections to be submitted; decision (normally by the governing body); and implementation (if proposals are approved). The Secretary of State has no role in the process.

Further Education: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils aged 16 to 18 years have been educated in  (a) further education colleges and  (b) sixth-form colleges in the East of England in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Knight: Figures for learners aged 16 to 18 participating in further education (FE) programmes in further education colleges and sixth-form colleges can be derived from the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) individualised learner record (ILR). The FE ILR was collated for the first time in 2002/03 and figures are given from that time.
	
		
			  16 to 18 learner numbers in further education colleges and sixth-form colleges in the East of England by local authorit y 
			  Thousand 
			   2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07 
			  Bedfordshire  
			 General FE and tertiary college 3.6 3.8 3.9 4.6 4.7 
			 Sixth-form college 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			   
			  Luton  
			 General FE and tertiary college 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.1 3.0 
			 Sixth-form college 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.9 1.8 
			   
			  Cambridgeshire  
			 General FE and tertiary college 4.9 5.3 5.7 6.2 6.5 
			 Sixth-form college 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.4 3.6 
			   
			  Peterborough  
			 General FE and tertiary college 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.1 
			 Sixth-form college 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			   
			  Essex  
			 General FE and tertiary college 11.1 10.8 11.4 12.6 12.9 
			 Sixth-form college 3.4 4.0 4.1 4.4 4.5 
			   
			  Southend on Sea  
			 General FE and tertiary college 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.5 
			 Sixth-form college 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 
			   
			  Thurrock  
			 General FE and tertiary college 2.5 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 
			 Sixth-form college 0.0 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.6 
			   
			  Hertfordshire  
			 General FE and tertiary college 8.4 8.4 8.9 9.1 9.5 
			 Sixth-form college 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 
			   
			  Norfolk  
			 General FE and tertiary college 7.0 6.9 7.4 7.5 7.6 
			 Sixth-form college 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.8 
			   
			  Suffolk  
			 General FE and tertiary college 5.0 5.3 5.8 6.1 6.1 
			 Sixth-form college 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7

General Certificate of Secondary Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools there are in each English local authority area in which fewer than  (a) 10 per cent.,  (b) 20 per cent. and  (c) 30 per cent. of pupils attained five A* to C GCSEs including English and mathematics in 2007; and how many schools in each such authority entered pupils for GCSEs in 2007.

Jim Knight: The percentage of pupils in schools achieving 5 A*-C GGSEs including English and mathematics can be found in the Achievement and Attainment Tables in the House of Commons Library.
	Information on exam entries by schools can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Eastbourne

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students resat GCSE examinations in Eastbourne constituency in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Gifted Children: Assessments

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in the gifted and talented programme did not gain level five or above at key stage 3 tests in 2007.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number and proportion of students in maintained schools identified as gifted and talented who did not achieve level 5 or above in key stage 3 tests in English, mathematics and science in 2007. It also gives comparable figures for those pupils who were not identified as gifted and talented,
	Secondary schools are asked to identify all pupils meeting the published eligibility criteria for the top 5 per cent. of pupils nationally and are free to identify other pupils who they judge to be gifted and talented relative to their year group in their school. Decisions are based on ability rather than attainment and will include pupils with practical talents in sports, arts and other fields.
	
		
			  Key stage 3 2007  Gifted and talented  Not identified as G&T 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 English 2,511 3.1 116,635 23.7 
			 Mathematics 2,176 2.7 114,224 23.2 
			 Science 2,968 3.7 129,782 26.4

Gifted Children: Pupil Exclusions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils classified as gifted and talented received a fixed period exclusion in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Gifted Children: Wirral

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many young people resident in Wirral, West constituency belong to the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth.

Jim Knight: The National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth was replaced by the Learner Academy for gifted and talented pupils in September 2007.
	The Department does not hold information specifically about the number of pupils who are registered with the Learner Academy for gifted and talented pupils resident in any given area. However, the Department does collect information about pupils who are identified by their school as being within the school's gifted and talented population. Some of these pupils are also registered with the Learner Academy for gifted and talented pupils. Information about the number of young people resident in Wirral, West identified as being within their schools gifted and talented population is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Pupils aged 5 to 15 resident in Wirral, West, 2007 
			   Resident pupils 
			 Number of resident pupils 8,446 
			 Number of resident pupils identified as gifted and talented(1) 1,123 
			 % of resident pupils identified as gifted and talented(1) 13.3 
			 (1) all pupils who: (i) have been registered as members of the student academy of the former National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY) on the basis of the NAGTY eligibility criteria at: http://ygt.dcsf.gov.uk/FileLinks/191_NAGTYeligibility_criteria.pdf; or  (ii) have not been registered as members of the former NAGTY student academy but nevertheless are judged by the school to meet the NAGTY eligibility criteria; and all pupils that, while they may not meet the NAGTY eligibility criteria, have been identified by the school as gifted and talented because their ability is developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group within that school, or because they have the potential to develop such ability.  Source:  School Census 2007

Head Teachers: Qualifications

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of those teachers who have obtained a National Professional Qualification for Headship have been appointed as  (a) head teachers and  (b) deputy head teachers of (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools and (iii) special schools, broken down by (A) ethnicity, (B) sex and (C) region.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not available centrally.

Health Education: Alcoholic Drinks

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what plans are there to review strategies for making children aware of the risks associated with drinking alcohol;
	(2)  what provision there is in the curriculum for educating children on the dangers of alcoholism.

Kevin Brennan: The Department issued its 'Drugs: Guidance for Schools' to all mainlined schools in February 2004, This makes clear our intention for pupils to be educated about alcohol and its effects in primary school—before drinking patterns become established— and for this to be revisited in secondary school as pupils' understanding and experience increases.
	Alcohol education should be delivered (along with other drug education) through well planned personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). Schools are expected to use the non-statutory frameworks of PSHE and citizenship at key stages 1 and 2, PSHE at key stages 3 and 4, the statutory citizenship programme of study at key stages 3 and 4 and the statutory requirements within the national curriculum science order for all phases for developing drug education.
	We announced in the Children's Plan that we would this year review the delivery of drug and alcohol education in schools in the light of the comprehensive and long-running Blueprint study, which is expected to conclude shortly.
	In addition to that, we also announced in the Children's Plan that we would publish an action plan on young people and alcohol, which will look at whether there are other ways—including action on alcohol education, low-price sales of alcohol and alcohol advertising—in which we could seek to influence young people's consumption of alcohol. We expect to publish the action plan shortly.
	The action plan will build on existing measures to communicate clearer information to young people and parents about the harms associated with alcohol, which were set out in the Government document 'Safe, Sensible, Social,' which updated the national alcohol harm reduction strategy.

Mathematics: GCE A-Level

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils in maintained schools were entered for mathematics A-level or AS-level in each year from 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Pupils in mainstream maintained schools entered for GCE A levels 
			   Number of pupils entered into mathematics  Percentage of pupils entered into mathematics 
			 1997 28,184 25.7 
			 1998 28,731 25.0 
			 1999 29,053 24.8 
			 2000 28,308 24.2 
			 2001 28,680 23.9 
			 2002 22,874 19.0 
			 2003 23,063 18.4 
			 2004 23,675 18.4 
			 2005 24,022 17.9 
			 2006 25,829 18.6 
			 2007 27,941 19.9 
		
	
	
		
			  Pupils in mainstream maintained schools entered for GGE AS levels 
			   Number of pupils entered into mathematics  Percentage of pupils entered into mathematics 
			 2001 31,841 23.5 
			 2002 30,387 19.3 
			 2003 29,519 17.9 
			 2004 27,424 16.3 
			 2005 30,147 17.2 
			 2006 32,136 17.9 
			 2007 36,380 19.7 
		
	
	These figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August) in mainstream maintained schools.
	AS levels were first introduced in 2000/01.

Operating Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been allocated for administrative costs of running his Department for  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09, broken down by main budget heading.

Kevin Brennan: The net administrative budget for the Department for Children, Schools and Families in 2007-08 is £195.8 million and in 2008-09 will be £191.2 million. A high level breakdown of administration cost outturn is published in the Department's Annual Report.

Primary Education: Admissions

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary school places there  (a) were in 2007-08 and  (b) have been in Bournemouth in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The available information is provided in the table. Data for 1997 are not available as Bournemouth was part of Dorset local authority.
	Information on the number school places is not collected centrally. Therefore information on the number of pupils on roll in primary schools has been provided.
	
		
			   Number (headcount) of primary school pupils in Bournemouth LA 
			 1998 11,546 
			 1999 11,563 
			 2000 11,554 
			 2001 11,449 
			 2002 11,226 
			 2003 11,150 
			 2004 10,980 
			 2005 10,755 
			 2006 10,492 
			 2007 10,360 
			  Source: School Census

Primary Education: Standards

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many primary schools were in special measures at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many have been given notice to improve in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The most recent figures published by Ofsted showed that 174 (1.0 per cent.) primary schools were in special measures on 31 December 2007.
	Between January and December 2007 a total of 154 primary schools (0.9 per cent.) were judged to require significant improvement and were given a notice to improve.

Primary Education: Transport

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the percentage of primary school children who travel  (a) to and  (b) from school by (i) car, (ii) public transport, (iii) walking, (iv) cycling and (v) school-organised bus transport.

Jim Knight: Home to school mode of travel data were collected at pupil level for the first time in the 2007 schools census, but are only compulsory for schools with an approved School Travel Plan in place. According to the most recent available figures; 14,063 schools in England have approved travel plans. Mode of travel data do not distinguish between "home to school" and "school to home" journeys. The following table shows the percentage and mode of travel for primary pupils in England, derived from the 2007 schools census.
	
		
			  Mode of travel  Percentage of primary pupils 
			 Car (includes car share, van and taxi) 40.5 
			 Public transport (including school organised bus transport) 3.5 
			 Walking 54.9 
			 Cycling 1.1

Primary Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) teachers,  (b) non-teaching assistants and  (c) support staff there were in York primary schools (i) in total and (ii) per pupil in (A) 1996-97 and (B) the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers, teaching assistants, non-teaching assistants and other support staff in local authority maintained nursery and primary schools in York local authority and England in January 1997 and 2007. The pupil:staff ratio for each of these groups is also provided.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent regular teachers, teaching assistants, non-teaching assistants, other support staff pupil:teacher ratio (PTR) and pupil:staff ratios (PSR) in local authority maintained nursery and primary schools—coverage: York local authority and England 
			  Years: January 1997 and 2007 
			   1997  2007 
			   York  England  York  England 
			   Teacher  PSR/P TR  Teacher  PSR/P TR  Teacher  PSR/P TR  PSR/P Teacher  PSR/P TR 
			 Regular teachers(1,2) 630 24.3 191,670 23.4 650 21.7 197,100 21.8 
			  
			 Teaching assistants(3) 90 156.7 41,870 102.7 330 38.7 105,770 37.8 
			 Teaching assistants 60 222.4 24,300 177.0 270 47.3 77,570 51.6 
			 Non-teaching assistants(4) 30 531.9 17,570 259.1 60 217.3 28,210 154.1 
			  
			 Other support staff(3,5) 70 213.2 33,870 127.0 90 134.7 57,370 697 
			 (1) Source: Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies, 618 g except PTR/PSR which is derived from School Census. (2) Excludes occasionals. (3) Source: School Census. (4) Includes special needs support staff and minority ethnic pupil support staff. (5) Excludes teaching assistants.  Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 10.

Private Education: GCE AS-Level

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils in independent schools were entered for AS-level in each year from 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The numbers of pupils in independent schools who were entered for AS level are as follows:
	
		
			  Pupils in independent schools entered for AS levels 
			   Number 
			 2000/01 26,665 
			 2001/02 35,847 
			 2002/03 35,322 
			 2003/04 33,489 
			 2004/05 32,633 
			 2005/06 32,942 
			 2006/07 33,130 
		
	
	These figures relate to 16 to 18-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31( )August).
	The figures relate to pupils who either took or cashed in AS levels during each academic year. Consequently, comparison with all 16 to 18-year-olds is not appropriate and so percentages cannot be provided.
	AS levels were first introduced in 2000/01.

Religious Freedom

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what response he plans to make to paragraphs 69 and 70 of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief's report of her mission to the UK (A/HRC/7/10/Add.3).

Jim Knight: The Government welcome the publication of the report by the UN Special Rapporteur on religion or belief. We have noted the contents of the report and welcome the positive statements about freedom of religion or belief in the UK.
	In respect of paragraph 69, the Government remain committed to the promotion and protection of human rights including respect for, and acceptance of, pluralism and diversity. The non-statutory framework for religious education places inclusion, tolerance, diversity and interfaith dialogue at the heart of children's learning. Each locally agreed syllabus must take into account not only Christianity but the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in the country. The membership of a Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education, as set out in law, should comprise representatives of Christian denominations and other religions which reflect the principal religious traditions in the area, as well as representatives of teaching unions and of the local authority.
	In relation to paragraph 70 of the report, every parent has the right to withdraw their child from all or any part of religious education and/or collective worship. Since September 2007, sixth form pupils have had the right to opt out of collective worship without parental consent. We believe it is reasonable to limit this right to collective worship and to those above compulsory school age.

Schools

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Reading, East (Mr. Wilson) of 8 October 2007,  Official Report, column 406W, on schools, how many non-maintained schools have been opened in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority.

Jim Knight: A table showing the numbers of non-maintained schools opened since 1997, broken down by local authority, has been placed in the House Library. The table separates the main types of establishment: (A) academies and city technology colleges; (B) independent schools; (C) independent special schools; and, (D) non-maintained special schools.
	It should be noted that maintained special schools were not included in the answer of 8 October 2007.

Schools: Accidents

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils and students were taken to hospital due to accidents within schools in Colchester constituency in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: Figures from the Health and Safety Executive covering reportable injuries to non-employees, including pupils and students, in schools, in the Colchester borough council area are set out in the following table. This area comprises Colchester and North Essex constituencies.
	
		
			   Colchester borough council area: schools 
			 2002-03 14 
			 2003-04 6 
			 2004-05 10 
			 2005-06 14 
			 2006-07 12 
		
	
	Under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995), an accident that happens to pupils or visitors in a school must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive if the person involved is killed or is taken to hospital from the site of the accident and the accident arises out of or in connection with work.

Schools: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools have withdrawn from participation in the National Test pilot scheme.

Jim Knight: Single Level Tests are being trialled as one element of the Making Good Progress pilot. 476 schools were involved when the pilot began in September 2007. Since then, 21 schools have withdrawn their participation from the Making Good Progress pilot, mostly due to changes of personnel. 411 pilot schools entered pupils for the first round of Single Level Tests in December 2007.

Schools: Facilities

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recommendations there are under the Building Schools for the Future programme on changing facilities, with particular reference to the number of year groups utilising the facilities at any one time.

Jim Knight: The BSF programme guidance does not make specific recommendations for this provision. Its aim is to raise the standard of educational attainment through the development of school buildings fit for 21(st )Century teaching and learning. The BSF programme, which is largely administered by local authorities, does however, use a number of publications to advise schools and building professionals on the details of the building brief. In the case of changing facilities those documents would be BB98 and the School Premises Regulations (SPRs).
	BB98 states
	'The total area of total and personal care facilities.... must include:
	........changing rooms with showers, near to indoor and outdoor sports provision......
	The location and design of toilet and changing room facilities should balance the demands for both privacy and adequate supervision.
	Normally it is sufficient to provide changing facilities for half a year group with equal and separate facilities for boys and girls in co-educational schools and further changing rooms for the sixth form. Showers should generally be in the form of separate cubicles, with approximately one for every six or seven pupils changing. In addition, at least one accessible changing area (with a sanitary fitting, wash basin and shower) should be provided in each changing area.'
	BB98 has drawn some of its information from a Sport England guidance note on the design of sports halls, although this does not make reference specifically to schools.
	The School Premises Regulations state that
	'.....Changing accommodation including showers shall be provided for pupils who have attained the age of 11 years and who are in receipt of physical education and that accommodation shall be readily accessible from the school grounds and from any accommodation provided for physical education within the school buildings'.

Schools: Finance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how the Partnerships for Schools programme determines allocations of capital funding to academy schools; and how the Building Schools for the Future programme determines such allocations to local authorities for new schools.

Jim Knight: Funding for academies and new schools within BSF is determined by Partnerships for Schools in accordance with the 'Funding Guidance for BSF Projects, including Academies' document which is available from the Partnerships for Schools website. The website address is:
	www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk.

Schools: Innovation

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools  (a) applied for and  (b) were granted powers to innovate in each year since 2002.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State has made 29 Power to Innovate orders in total that have directly benefited around 200 schools and colleges. The following table sets out the number of Power to Innovate formal applications received in each academic year since 2002; the number of orders made; and the number of schools to which those orders applied. The Department has received over 1,700 formal inquiries since it was introduced, many of which could be implemented within existing legislation, or did not meet the criteria for the PtI.
	
		
			  Annual report (academic year)  Number of formal applications  Number withdrawn  Number of orders made  Number of schools covered 
			 2002-03 4 0 3 3 
			 2003-04 24 18 5 100 
			 2004-05 5 0 5 73 
			 2005-06 7 1 5 9 
			 2006-07 7 1 6 14 
			 2007-end February 2008 13 4 5 5 
			 Total 60 24 29 204

Schools: Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many schools in England have school travel plans;
	(2)  how many schools in England have received public funding to help develop or implement school travel plans, broken down by local authority area.

Jim Knight: According to the most recent available figures, 14,063 schools in England have approved school travel plans.
	The Department for Children Schools and Families and the Department for Transport are providing £7.5 million a year to fund a network of local authority based school travel plan advisers to work with schools to develop and implement school travel plans. DCSF is providing £20 million a year in capital grants to support maintained schools with approved travel plans—worth around £5,000 for a typical primary and around £10,000 for a typical secondary school.
	The following table shows how many schools in England have received public funding to help develop or implement school travel plans by local authority area. This figure includes independent schools that receive school travel adviser assistance, but no grant funding.
	
		
			  Local authority  Number of schools  School travel plans 
			 Luton 86 34 
			 Peterborough 80 49 
			 Southend 63 65 
			 Thurrock 57 58 
			 Norfolk 488 384 
			 Bedfordshire 236 148 
			 Suffolk 387 176 
			 Essex 628 439 
			 Cambridgeshire 281 147 
			 Hertfordshire 596 369 
			 Nottingham City 136 62 
			 Leicester City 125 46 
			 Derby City 115 68 
			 Nottinghamshire 378 188 
			 Derbyshire 452 225 
			 Northants 354 175 
			 Leicestershire 305 161 
			 Lincolnshire 402 301 
			 Rutland 27 13 
			 Tower Hamlets 109 82 
			 Islington 73 44 
			 Hackney 98 56 
			 Camden 92 35 
			 Newham 100 57 
			 Lambeth 96 61 
			 Southwark 116 46 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 75 35 
			 Westminster 85 16 
			 Haringey 97 79 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 74 20 
			 Greenwich 98 71 
			 Lewisham too 47 
			 Barking and Dagenham 62 31 
			 Ealing 109 28 
			 Waltham Forest 91 60 
			 Wandsworth 113 47 
			 Brent 98 40 
			 Corporation of London 5 0 
			 Enfield 100 50 
			 Hounslow 91 60 
			 Croydon 162 65 
			 Hillingdon 101 57 
			 Barnet 152 58 
			 Redbridge 91 48 
			 Harrow 85 28 
			 Merton 66 45 
			 Richmond 75 54 
			 Bromley 115 81 
			 Sutton 71 41 
			 Havering 97 60 
			 Bexley 87 38 
			 Kingston 64 37 
			 Middlesbrough 60 43 
			 Newcastle 109 54 
			 South Tyneside 72 42 
			 Hartlepool 40 31 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 60 57 
			 Gateshead 96 54 
			 Durham 299 199 
			 Sunderland 122 24 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 86 39 
			 Darlington 45 22 
			 North Tyneside 84 33 
			 Northumberland 211 105 
			 Manchester 198 109 
			 Liverpool 198 91 
			 Knowsley 74 48 
			 Wirral 146 71 
			 Rochdale 119 62 
			 Salford 121 60 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 91 29 
			 Halton 73 38 
			 Blackpool 46 34 
			 Oldham 120 54 
			 St. Helens 74 38 
			 Tameside 105 96 
			 Sefton 121 67 
			 Bolton 141 28 
			 Wigan 139 59 
			 Lancashire 692 323 
			 Bury Metro 92 51 
			 Cumbria 357 203 
			 Stockport 140 74 
			 Trafford 112 46 
			 Cheshire 367 171 
			 Warrington 92 54 
			 Southampton 91 76 
			 Slough 53 28 
			 Brighton and Hove 97 66 
			 Reading 63 41 
			 Isle of Wight 74 32 
			 Portsmouth 77 54 
			 Milton Keynes 123 65 
			 East Sussex 230 131 
			 Kent 713 335 
			 Medway 117 73 
			 Oxfordshire 347 220 
			 Hampshire 602 333 
			 Surrey 530 278 
			 West Berkshire 95 64 
			 Bracknell Forest 45 26 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 84 31 
			 West Sussex 356 222 
			 Buckinghamshire 272 97 
			 Wokingham 78 40 
			 Bristol 181 91 
			 Torbay 48 41 
			 Plymouth 111 59 
			 Bournemouth 46 29 
			 Cornwall 297 168 
			 North Somerset 89 62 
			 Devon 422 298 
			 Swindon 84 51 
			 Gloucestershire 341 162 
			 BANES 89 55 
			 Somerset 318 141 
			 South Gloucestershire 120 66 
			 Wiltshire 276 142 
			 Dorset 207 127 
			 Poole 46 24 
			 Scilly Isles 1 0 
			 Birmingham 469 258 
			 Sandwell 124 91 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 105 68 
			 Wolverhampton 121 74 
			 Walsall 135 64 
			 Coventry 130 77 
			 Telford and Wrekin 83 77 
			 Dudley 116 68 
			 Solihull 94 49 
			 Staffordshire 425 224 
			 Worcestershire 291 188 
			 Warwickshire 270 112 
			 Herefordshire 115 86 
			 Shropshire 190 146 
			 Bradford 228 144 
			 North East Lincolnshire 81 69 
			 Leeds 286 150 
			 Hull 103 40 
			 Barnsley 101 71 
			 Sheffield 191 126 
			 Rotherham 135 101 
			 Doncaster 138 77 
			 Kirklees 211 85 
			 Wakefield 164 76 
			 Calderdale 115 71 
			 North Lincolnshire 88 53 
			 York 76 53 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 166 95 
			 North Yorkshire 420 393 
			 Total 25,040 14,063

Secondary Education: Admissions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils  (a) in total and  (b) entitled to free school meals did not gain a place at their first preference secondary school in each of the last three years, broken down by ethnicity.

Jim Knight: The Department is collecting secondary school preference data from local authorities for the first time this year, which will include the number of families obtaining an offer at their first, second, third or lower preference school in each authority area. The data provided by local authorities will not include information on children's eligibility for free school meals or their ethnicity. The data will be published on 11 March 2008 on the DCSF Research Gateway at:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway.

Special Educational Needs

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what guidance his Department gives to education authorities on the rights of parents of children with a statement of special educational needs to name a school for their children; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what guidance his Department gives to education authorities on the rights of parents of children with special educational needs to have an assessment and full statement of their children's needs; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what rights parents of children with special educational needs have to assistance in obtaining an independent assessment of their children's needs when in dispute with their education authority; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The Special Educational Needs Code of Practice is statutory guidance to which local authorities and others must have regard. It sets out parents' right under the Education Act 1996 to request an assessment of their children's special educational needs (SEN) and local authorities' duties, where necessary, to assess and to draw up SEN statements. The code includes guidance, and the regulations, setting out the form the statement must take. It advises local authorities of their duty to send parents draft statements with the name of the school left blank and invite the parents to request a maintained mainstream or special school or to make representations for a non-maintained school. The code makes clear that where parents request a maintained school the local authority must name that school on the final statement unless the school is unsuitable for the child's age, ability, aptitude or SEN or naming the school would be incompatible with the efficient education of other children there or the efficient use of resources, A maintained school named on a final statement must admit the child.
	Parents have the right to obtain an independent assessment of their child's SEN if they are in dispute with their local authority. If parents include the report of such an assessment in the advice they give to the local authority as part of the statutory assessment process then the local authority must take it into account when deciding whether to draw up a statement. If the parents appeal to the SEN and Disability Tribunal and include the report of the independent assessment in their statement of case then the tribunal panel must take it into account when considering the appeal.

Teachers

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many graduates educated at  (a) Oxford or Cambridge University and  (b) a Russell Group University entered teaching in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Teachers

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the amount of time teachers spend preparing for lessons each week.

Jim Knight: The latest estimates of the amount of time spent per week by classroom teachers on planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) activities and, in particular, time spent on planning/preparing lessons are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Average hours spent per week( 1)  on working activities, including PPA (planning, preparation and assessment), by full-time classroom teachers, by school type 
			   Primary  Secondary  Special 
			 Total hours worked (including PPA time) 51.5 48.7 45.0 
			 Total time (in hours) spent on PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) 16.7 14.8 10.5 
			 Of which:
			 Time (in hours) spent on planning/preparing lesson, practical test or assessment 9.3 7.2 6.6 
			 (1) The results are based upon diaries completed by a sample of teachers during a single week in March 2007. Therefore, the survey statistics do not necessarily provide an accurate guide to working patterns in other weeks of the year, although an important factor in selecting the week was that it was generally felt not to be unusual for term-time.  Source: OME 'Teachers' Workloads Diary Survey 2007', March 2007

Teachers: Crimes of Violence

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers were physically assaulted by  (a) pupils,  (b) parents and  (c) other persons in each of the last five years, broken down by local education authority.

Jim Knight: Data are not collected centrally on the number of teachers who have been subject to physical assault.
	The Department does collect information on the number of exclusions from schools which occur following assault on an adult; this was collected for the first time for 2004/05. Information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions due to assault against an adult, broken down by local education authority, and covering primary and secondary and special schools for 2004/05 has been placed in the House of Commons Library. In 2005/06 information is available for secondary schools only; this has also been placed in the Library.

Teachers: Disciplinary Proceedings

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers were  (a) suspended and  (b) suspended and reinstated in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teachers: Early Retirement

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers took early retirement from posts in schools in Eastbourne constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Teachers: Ex-servicemen

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will consider introducing specific measures to attract veterans leaving the armed forces into a career in teaching.

Jim Knight: We are already working on a number of measures to encourage service leavers to enter a teaching career.
	We have been working with the Ministry of Defence on ways to encourage more service leavers to take up a career in secondary level specialist teaching in science, mathematics and ICT subjects. In addition to promoting existing opportunities for individuals to consider teaching through the MOD's Career Transition Partnership, we have also announced our intention to establish a new programme called Transition to Teaching in the Children's Plan. This will be a collaboration between employers and the Training and Development Agency for Schools to encourage people who are leaving employment, including service leavers, in scientific, technological or mathematical fields to consider training to become teachers of mathematics, science or ICT.
	In addition, we are currently investigating possible ways of helping service leavers without degrees to gain degrees while they train to become teachers. Proposals are currently at a very early stage and we will announce further details as soon as we are in a position to do so.

Teachers: Misconduct

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers were accused of misconduct by  (a) pupils and  (b) parents in each year since 2002.

Kevin Brennan: The Department does not collect data on the number of teachers accused of misconduct by pupils and parents.

Teachers: Qualifications

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers without qualified teacher status were teaching in schools in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers without qualified teacher status (QTS) employed in local authority maintained schools in England in each January, 1997 to 2007.
	Full-time equivalent teachers without qualified teacher status (QTS) in service in the local authority maintained sector in England: January of each year.
	
		
			  January  Overseas trained teachers and instructors without QTS  Teachers on employment based routes to QTS( 1)  Total 
			 1997 2,480 460 2,940 
			 1998 2,640 570 3,210 
			 1999 3,070 470 3,540 
			 2000 3,240 580 3,820 
			 2001 4,340 1,280 5,620 
			 2002 8,140 3,320 11,460 
			 2003 11,030 4,200 15,230 
			 2004 11,610 6,040 17,640 
			 2005 12,150 6,430 18,570 
			 2006 11,810 6,100 17,910 
			 2007 10,970 5,740 16,710 
			 (1) Those on the Graduate Teacher programme, the Registered Teachers programme, the Overseas Trained Teachers programme or the Teach First scheme).  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10  Source:  Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies, 618g

Teachers: Sick Leave

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers took time off work for depression or stress-related illnesses in each of the last 10 years; how much time was taken off; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Teaching Methods

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when small group tuition will be available across England.

Jim Knight: The Government are committed to every child having access to personalised learning support, which could include small group tuition, to ensure that every child achieves their potential. As part of personalising learning for children and young people, the Government are encouraging schools to consider the opportunities for children beyond the school day, and in particular through extended schools. The extended school core offer includes a varied menu of activities for children and young people, with study support as part of this. The Government have committed over £13 billion over the next three years to support the development of extended schools, and included in this is funding to support small group academic focused study support in some secondary schools, with funding for this becoming available in 2009/10.
	In addition, the Every Child a Reader programme is providing support to six to seven-year-olds who are struggling to learn to read. An expert literacy intervention teacher will be trained in every school that is part of this programme. Their first task will be to provide one to one support to children with the greatest difficulties in learning to read. They will also give small group tuition to children with less severe reading difficulties.

Trust Schools

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools became trust schools in each year for which the data are available.

Jim Knight: 30 schools became trust schools in September 2007—the first to acquire trust schools status. As of 29 February 2008, 37 trust schools were operational.
	The regulations of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 governing trust schools came into force in May 2007 and according to our records there were no trust schools set up under that legislation before August 2007.

Work Experience

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is towards supporting summer internships by  (a) school children and  (b) school leavers.

Beverley Hughes: The Government do not have a specific policy about summer internships by school children, or school leavers. There is, however, a statutory requirement for schools to provide work-related learning for 14 to 16-year-olds. From September 2008 we are also introducing new Diplomas for 14-19s which cover a wide range of business sectors. Work-related learning includes work experience placements which can be organised flexibly and which prepare young people for adult and working life. Additionally, many young people have access to summer schools as part of the Aimhigher and City Challenge programmes.

Young People: Unemployment

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of  (a) 16,  (b) 17 and  (c) 18-year-olds not in full-time education or training, broken down by local education authority area in the East of England.

Jim Knight: Estimates of participation in education, training and employment in England for those aged 16-18 are published annually by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June (see following link; this also includes local participation estimates, but only for 16 and 17-year-olds).
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000734/index.shtml
	The Department also publishes local estimates of participation in England alongside the national figures, but these are only available for young people of academic age 16 and 17. The local participation estimates cover those in full-time education, part-time education, and Work Based Learning, but do not identify young people in employer funded training(1) or other education and training(2) apart from those on a part-time education course. This means that young people on such training will be included in the "not in education or Work Based Learning" figure.
	(1) Employer funded training covers employees who have received training in the past four weeks, other than those in Work Based Learning.
	(2) Other education and training covers young people who are studying but are not included in other categories. For example those attending independent colleges or training centres, or those at any college in part-time study not reported as released from job.
	The most recent local estimates for local authorities in the East of England region relate to the end of 2005, and are shown in the following table. The equivalent national estimates, calculated on the same basis, are also shown for comparison.
	
		
			  Proportion of young people not in education or Work Based Learning by academic age, end 2005 
			   Percentage  Number( 1) 
			   16  year  olds  17  year  olds  16 and 17  year olds  16  year olds  17  year  olds  16 and 17  year  olds 
			 East of England Government office region 14 25 19 9,700 17,800 27,500 
			
			  Local authorities   
			 Bedfordshire(2) 11 20 16 900 1,700 2,600 
			 Bedfordshire(3) 11 19 15 600 1,000 1,600 
			 Luton(3) 12 22 17 300 600 900 
			 Cambridgeshire(2) 11 26 19 1,000 2,600 3,700 
			 Cambridgeshire(3) 11 25 18 800 2,000 2,700 
			 Peterborough(3) 13 29 21 300 600 900 
			 Essex(2) 17 29 23 3,700 6,200 9,900 
			 Essex(3) 17 28 22 2,900 4,900 7,800 
			 Southend-on-Sea(3) 18 27 22 300 600 900 
			 Thurrock(3) 21 38 30 400 800 1,200 
			 Hertfordshire(2) 8 17 13 1,200 2,300 3,500 
			 Norfolk(2) 15 27 21 1,500 2,700 4,200 
			 Suffolk(2) 16 25 20 1,400 2,200 3,700 
			
			 England 14 24 19 91,900 160,800 252,700 
			 (1) Numbers may not add because of independent rounding. (2) 'Upper tier authorities' (eg Bedfordshire) (3) 'Lower tier authorities' (eg Bedfordshire)  Note: The lower tier areas combine to form the upper tier authorities